Deepen your knowledge of Buddhist sculpture at the Nara National Museum (narahaku.go.jp). Easy to spot with its Doric columns and French Renaissance styling, it’s just about the only Western-style building inside Nara-kōen.
Of chief interest is the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall. It displays the museum’s unrivaled collection of butsu-zō (statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas). With around a hundred on display at any one time, many are designated national treasures and some are simply monumental, like the pair of Kongorishiki (temple guardians) on loan from Kinpusen-ji Temple in Yoshino – these are the only ones you’re permitted to photograph. Created in the Kamakura period (1192–1333), they exemplify the militaristic spirit of the era with their well-defined six packs and rippling muscles. Compare them with figures from the Nara period (710–784) and you'll see that under imperial rule the physical ideal was more towards cherubic roundness.
Don't miss the display downstairs where you can learn about the symbolism of mudra (hand gestures) and the techniques used to create giant wooden Buddhist statues from interlocking blocks of wood.
The newer east and west wings, a short walk away, contain the permanent collections (sculptures, paintings and calligraphy) and also host special exhibitions.
Particularly noteworthy is the fall special exhibition featuring the artifacts from Shōsō-in Hall, which holds the treasures of Tōdai-ji. The exhibits include priceless items from the cultures along the Silk Road. This exhibit (admission ¥1100) is well worth it, but be prepared for crowds.
