Speciality Museums
Shinkyogoku Shopping District
Top Museums in Kyoto, Japan
Museums in Kyoto
- Traveler favoritesThings to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
- Traveler rankingHighest rated attractions on Tripadvisor, based on traveler reviews.
Category types
Museums
Traveler rating
Neighborhoods
Good for
230 places sorted by traveler favorites
Gardens • Art Museums
Northern Kyoto
Speciality Museums • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Southern Kyoto
Art Museums
Shinkyogoku Shopping District
Art Museums
City Center
Art Museums
Western Kyoto
Speciality Museums
Western Kyoto
…
Showing results 1-30 of 230
What travelers are saying
- Tucupita30 contributionsExcellent experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a great history of Japan and the Samurai/Shogun as well as hands on experiences and fun with throwing stars and samurai costumes.Written August 10, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- CanuckJamesNishinomiya, Japan1,131 contributionsJapan has three major railway museums. Nagoya highlights Shinkansen, Saitama does a good job with history. This museum really emphasizes how a train and steam engines work. They break down the train into its components and explain each part in detail. Including things like how the ticket machines work.
Located across the parking lot from the Umekōji-Kyōtonishi Station. Easily accessible from Kyoto Station. This used to be the steam locomotive museum until it merged with the Osaka Railway Museum a few years ago and was rebranded as the Kyoto Railway Museum.
On the same property, there is an actual train roundhouse, full of different model trains that you can go inside.
There is an actual working steam locomotive for an extra 300 yen, you can ride for about 10 minutes. You are warned, that if the winds are right, you will get a mouthful of soot.
The actual main building has representations for all the major types of trains currently running, including the bullet train but the cool bits are at the back of the building where each component is broken down and displayed with working models. The electrical guides, the wheels, the engine design, and the power couplings. You can wander through the cab and even push the emergency stop button.
The 2F has a huge train diorama with shows. This is worth watching. There are many activities for children on this floor. An interesting activity that seemed popular for children was the train conductor simulator. There are also historical exhibits on this floor.
If there is a complaint to make about this museum is the relative lack of food options. There is a restaurant on the 2F, today the lineup was so long it was discouraging. There is a bento kiosk at the beginning of the tour near the entryway but they also were running out of food by 12:30 pm. There should be another option. Lots of vending machines.
Because this is a JR-sponsored facility, they ONLY accept CASH or the ICOCA card as payment. Credit cards or other forms of cashless payments are not available.
If you are a train buff, you need to go. If you are even a little interested in trains, it's worth coming. Well designed for children. Your kids will love this place.
As an older adult, I loved it.Written April 24, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Lise RLafayette, CO46 contributionsVisiting the museum is a good change of pace. You get to taste the water they make the sake with.(from the outside fountain). It's informative, interesting and you sample 2 sakes and a plum wine. On top of it, it is kind of free because they give you a small bottle of sake to take home.Written November 25, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- AraleMelbourneMelbourne, Australia368 contributionsThis isn't strictly a museum but a library of manga books. There is a section of manga in English, German, Italian, Polish, Chinese etc. Each language has different books available. My son spent 3 hours reading different English manga and enjoyed himself. There is also a demonstration of how to draw manga available. An inexpensive entertainment for those who love manga.Written January 20, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- cricketfanBBAuckland226 contributionsseems some of the exhibits change often but they were all great. Some excellent ancient stone age stuff.Written February 16, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Lillian CLondon, UK30 contributionsit was better 10 years ago, handwork, exquisite work is vvv expensive in kyoto, a genuine boutieu will charge £ 2500 for a pure kyoto indigo dyed of the aubergine color, designer prices, just for a blouse, all handworkWritten March 7, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- katlat29West Bridgewater, MA362 contributionsThe staff makes sure you have a great time. It’s a one room museum but the staff here provides a great customer experience even though no English is spoken. I truly enjoyed it. It was also very inexpensive compared to other museums. It’s only one room, so if you aren’t into kaleidoscopes this is not the place for you but if you enjoy them then you will enjoy this museum.Written December 11, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Vivien TKL56 contributionsThe museum is not a large building. I recall seeing 3 levels of exhibitions permanent and also special exhibition. The permanent exhibition was nice although there was no description in other languages ( maybe except for the title, medium used and artist's name) I believe they offer translated descriptions for certain exhibits. We enjoyed our trip to the museum not just for the exhibits but also the architecture and the experience of being in it. While coming down form 3rd floor to 2nd floor via the stairs, the windows open out to the view outside - which was mountains in the distance and vast greenery. They definitely took care in the architecture design to draw in the outside. There is also a seating area with long couches and benches which were placed facing a large window which opened to the mountain view as well. I would consider that a permanent exhibit as well - with 4 seasonal changes.
There is a small bookshop which sold interesting merchandise and I was particularly amused by the few flip books they sold. I would buy them but they were rather costly.
We also enjoyed some sandwiches and coffee at the cafe which again opens out to the outside with its large glass wall on one side. Most patrons just sat facing outwards - even the couples sat side by side instead of across from each other.
If time allows, I would recommend a visit here as the museum of modern art is a nice place with interesting exhibits. I felt it was a juxtapose to the ancient shrines and buildings we had come to visit in Kyoto. The contrast made the experience more 'complete' although by no means am I done visiting Kyoto.Written January 11, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Pamela A OSeattle677 contributionsWe were planning to go to the Kyoto Botanical Garden, which is right next door, but the garden was closed due to an electrical problem, so we came here instead. This is an outdoor park, made of mostly concrete and lots and lots of falling water and pools. On some of the concrete walls are painted large and quite well done reproductions of some of the great art pieces of the world by artists such as Michelangelo, van Gogh, Renoir, etc.I particularly enjoyed the reproductions of Chinese screens because you can get right up close to these and see all the details that you really can't see well at all when looking at the original in a regular museum. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this place.Written November 28, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- borrumLondon, UK968 contributionsThis two-storey property provides intriguing insights into the shape and furnishings of an attractive Japanese home.
The exhibits are thought-provoking. Not only a diverse collection of the ceramics for which this renowned artist is famous, but also calligraphies, wood carvings and amazing sculptures are on display. The huge kiln, fuelled by logs, is impressive.Written May 12, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Gary WMelbourne, Australia248 contributionsI visited the Kyoto museum without any expectations except to learn something of the local history and culture. What I found when I got there was a fantastic exhibition of the Czech artist Mucha works.
This exhibition covers two floors of the museum and has over a hundred of his works.
It also covered how his stylised works have influenced others right up to current manga artists.
The rest of the museum exhibits were ok but there was very limited English explanations on the exhibits so I probably didn’t get the full benefit of the experience.
Audio guides are available which I didn’t use.
Highly recommendedWritten October 31, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Otfd1Wollongong, Australia29 contributionsMy wife was a little disappointed. She was hoping for fabric she couldn't get at home in Australia. Nothing extraordinary.Written November 24, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Natalie CWellington, New Zealand122 contributionsThis property has been owned by the same family for many generations and was built in the 1700s , the family has preserved it well and run it as a walk through museum. Unfortunately there is limited information available in English , they give you a document with a general overview but an English tour guide would have been great. The tour is self guided , cost 1000yen per adult and would take around 20 mins .Written April 12, 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MiKyOtOTokyo, Japan2 contributionsIt's not a very big museum, but that just adds to the whole coziness of the place. Exhibits are nicely done in a traditional way.Written June 22, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Kimitaka STaichung, Taiwan12,458 contributionsKizakura is a famous Sake in Fushimi, and Kappa Country is a facility, which is managed by their brewery. There is a small museum (free) and a restaurant, where you can try their original beers.Written August 23, 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kyoto
- These are the best places for kid-friendly museums in Kyoto:
- SAMURAI & NINJA MUSEUM with EXPERIENCE
- Kyoto Railway Museum
- Kyoto International Manga Museum
- Kaleidoscope Museum of Kyoto
- Japan Kanji Museum & Library
- These are the best places for budget-friendly museums in Kyoto:
- Kyoto Shibori Museum
- SAMURAI & NINJA MUSEUM with EXPERIENCE
- Kyoto Railway Museum
- Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design
- Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum