The name of Shōsō-in suggests that it is a temple, but in fact it is the treasure house of Tōdai-Tempel (Tōdai-ji) in Nara. The exact construction dates are not known, but works were finished before AD 759, when the bequest items storage list was complete. The stock collection started with more than 600 items Empress Kōmyō dedicated to the Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji as a token of her love for Emperor Shōmu. Later in Heian period further items and instruments were transferred from a different warehouse of the Tōdai-Temple. After the Meiji Restauration (1868) the national government enforced the separation of Shinto from Buddhism the Shōsō-in jurisdiction was transferred to the national government. Since 1884 the Imperial Household Ministry (present-day) Imperial Household Agency takes care both the collections. The building is in the azekura log-cabin style, with a raised floor. It lies to the northwest of the Daibutsuden (which houses the Great Buddha). The Shōsō-in houses artifacts connected to Emperor Shōmu (701–756) and Empress Kōmyō (701–760), as well as arts and crafts of the Tempyō period of Japanese history. Nowadays the treasures are grouped into musical instruments, decorative arts, incense and medicine, arms and armor, manuscripts and maps, stationery, game sets, tableware, buddhist implements, ritual implements, garments & accessories, etc. The Imperial Household Agency manages a Website (Japanese, English) with numerous photos and information. It also publishes an annual bulletin with reports on the conservation and preservation works on the repository and treasures. Every year in autumn the National Nara Museum has a special exhibition of Shōsō-in treasures. If you happen to be in Japan between October 28 und November 13 2017 you should pay a visit to the 69th Annual Exhibition.

The Shosoin Temple has a magnificent collection of ancient Japanese art. It has well preserved textiles, ceramics and statues. Each year they have special exhibits that are worth seeing.