Mi・Nara

photo by Rebirth10 · CC BY 3.0

photo by inunami · CC BY 2.0

The 4th floor houses a goldfish aquarium, the pride of western Japan.

A ‘tourism-oriented’ shopping centre (観光型複合ショッピングセンター) next to the UNESCO site of the Heijō-kyō palace ruins. The fourth floor houses the NARA KINGYO MUSEUM, described by the official page as one of the largest aquariums in western Japan, devoted to the goldfish: a direct reference to Yamatokoriyama, the city in Nara Prefecture known for centuries as Japan's goldfish-breeding capital. Next to it, the NARA IKIMONO MUSEUM displays about a hundred species of reptiles, fish and amphibians.

The centre stands in the Nijō area, in the western part of Nara city, right beside the archaeological park of the Heijō-kyō imperial palace ruins (the eighth-century capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site). As well as the two themed museums, it includes fashion shops, restaurants and a play area for families.

ℹ️ Open 10:00–20:00 (some shops vary), closed only on 1 January. Reachable by Nara Kotsu bus from JR Nara (~9 min), Kintetsu Nara (~15 min) or Shin-Ōmiya (~6 min); a free shuttle bus from the three stations runs until 30 September 2026, after which there is only ordinary public transport to the ‘Miyato Teien’ bus stop. Large car park, 300 yen/hour, capped at 700 yen/day.

🚉 Shinomiya · 11 min walk

Sources: mina-ra.com · narashikanko.or.jp

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