Shosoin Exhibition 2026 Nara — Oct 24–Nov 9 at Nara National Museum: Tickets, Hours

The 78th Shosoin Exhibition (officially "The 78th Annual Exhibition of Shōsō-in Treasures") runs from Saturday 24 October to Monday 9 November 2026 at the Nara National Museum's East and West New Wings, open every day of the run. Hours are 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, extended to 8:00 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays, with last entry 60 minutes before closing. Entry is by timed-entry ticket: ¥2,000 for adults, ¥1,500 for high-school and university students and ¥500 for elementary and junior-high students, dropping to ¥1,500 for adults on the late-entry slots (official page, checked 2026-10-14).

The Shosoin Repository in Nara holds some 9,000 treasures, centred on objects once owned by Emperor Shomu in the 8th century. Every autumn the museum shows a fresh selection of them for about two and a half weeks. 2026 marks 80 years since the first exhibition in 1946 (three editions were held in Tokyo; the rest in Nara). This year's show has 60 treasures, 11 of them on display for the first time.

Shosoin Exhibition 2026 at a glance

Ticket prices

Holders of a disability certificate plus one caretaker, and preschool children, enter free. For other concessions and the ID you need to show, see the official admission section.

When does the late-entry discount start?

The late-entry price applies only to timed-entry tickets for the evening windows:

• Monday to Thursday: entry windows from 4:00 pm (last entry 5:00 pm)
• Friday to Sunday and holidays: entry windows from 5:00 pm (last entry 7:00 pm)

Because the museum stays open until 8:00 pm at weekends, a 5:00 pm late-entry ticket gives you up to about three hours inside for ¥1,500. On weekdays you get up to about two hours before the 6:00 pm close. There is no time limit once you are inside — the exhibition does not clear the galleries between windows.

How to buy tickets

• Sales opened on Friday 4 September 2026 at 10:00 am, and each window stays on sale until its start time.
• Buy through the official online ticket site, which has an English page, or through Lawson Ticket. You can buy up to 8 tickets per transaction.
• Each window closes when its allocation sells out, so check remaining availability on the official ticket page before you travel.
• Timed-entry tickets cannot be changed, cancelled, refunded or reissued.

Treasures to look for in 2026

From the museum's list of highlights:

• Lacquered ewer (Shikkohei) — a jug with a handle in a shape that came from Persia, made with lacquer and decorated with plants, deer and other motifs.
• Red and blue ivory go stones (Kogebachiru no kishi / Kongebachiru no kishi) — dyed ivory game pieces with carved designs, among Emperor Shomu's own belongings.
• Square mirror with beasts and grapevines (Chojukahai no hokyo) — a cast mirror with mythical lions and grapevine scrolls.
• White glass ewer (Hakururi no hei) — a clear, faintly green glass water jug.
• Bonmo-kyo sutra, a painted offering box (Mitsuda saie no hako) and a Gigaku dance mask of the Drunken Persian King (Suikoo), from a masked drama that reached Japan via the Korean peninsula.

The full list of 60 objects is on the official list of treasures (Japanese).

Beating the crowds

• The museum warns that crowds build right at the start of each time window and recommends arriving a little later.
• Since there is no time limit, decide in advance whether you want an early window for a slow visit or a late-entry window to save money.
• There is no car park at the museum, so come by train and bus.

Getting there

• Kintetsu Nara Station: about 15 minutes on foot, heading east along Noborioji street.
• JR Nara or Kintetsu Nara Station: Nara Kotsu "City Loop" bus (outer loop) to Himuro-jinja / Kokuritsu-hakubutsukan, right outside the museum.
• Parking: none at the museum.

The museum is inside Nara Park, within walking distance of Todaiji. For temple hours and fees see our Todaiji Temple visitor guide; for the deer you will meet on the way, read Nara Park deer: feeding and safety. The run also overlaps with the start of the autumn colours (Autumn Foliage 2026 planning guide).

Sources: Nara National Museum, "The 78th Annual Exhibition of Shōsō-in Treasures" (https://www.narahaku.go.jp/exhibition/special/special_exhibition/202610_shosoin/); official exhibition site (https://www.shosoin-ten.jp/); official online tickets in English (https://www.e-tix.jp/shosoin-ten/en/). Independently checked against Bijutsu Techo, Kyodo News (1 October 2026) and the Internet Museum / Rurubu access listings. Checked 2026-10-14.

Update log: 2026-10-14 page created from the official dates, prices and list of treasures.