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Atlas Obscura - Latest • Jan. 29, 2026, 5:15 p.m.
Naramachi Nepalese Window in Nara, Japan
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The Naramachi Historic District sits south of the famous Nara Park, lined with traditional wooden townhouses and steeped in tranquil, old-world charm. It’s a distinctly Japanese area, straight out of the mid-19th century.
But, surprisingly, a very exotic element hides in plain sight among these townhouses, blending perfectly into traditional architecture. This hand-carved Nepalese window, with intricate reliefs of flowers, lions and Garuda, once adorned the Nepal Pavilion at the 1970 Osaka Expo.
The building itself belongs to the nearby Gango-ji Temple, once used as a lodging for travelling priests, including some from Nepal. Interestingly, it has not been recorded when the window was brought to Nara – and it remains unknown what happened to the rest of the Nepal Pavilion.
But, surprisingly, a very exotic element hides in plain sight among these townhouses, blending perfectly into traditional architecture. This hand-carved Nepalese window, with intricate reliefs of flowers, lions and Garuda, once adorned the Nepal Pavilion at the 1970 Osaka Expo.
The building itself belongs to the nearby Gango-ji Temple, once used as a lodging for travelling priests, including some from Nepal. Interestingly, it has not been recorded when the window was brought to Nara – and it remains unknown what happened to the rest of the Nepal Pavilion.
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