Speciality Museums
Shinkyogoku Shopping District
THE 10 BEST Kyoto Museums
Museums in Kyoto
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Museums
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Travelers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travelers across the globe.
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Recommended Museum Tickets and Passes (3)
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Art Galleries
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Gardens • Art Museums
Northern Kyoto
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Western Kyoto
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Nishijin District
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What travelers are saying
- Dan S1 contributionThe tour was amazing great job buy the guide Takto! Would recommend in Kyoto. Spoke English and Japanese and was very knowledgable . Absolutely great experience!Written September 19, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Nancy LSaratoga, CA15 contributionsThis is a very comprehensive museum about railroads in Japan and the history of railroads. The are exhibits about the engineering and sub-assembly parts of a train. There is a train simulator experience that you can reserve. The roundhouse has many engines and a working area where workers are restoring engines. A kiddie train play area keeps the young ones busy! This is a good place for train enthusiasts!Written October 3, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- maaparMount Pleasant, SC968 contributionsSo glad that we found this small museum. It was beautifully laid out and artists and craftsmen were actually demonstrating various crafts. It was fascinating and I cannot believe more people do not know about it. It should definitely be rated higher as a must seeWritten December 20, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LVVTakatsuki, Japan63 contributionsThis is a great place to visit if you want to see Japanese art. There are many impressive items on display and the temporary exhibition is always worth a visit. I think the size of the museum is perfect. It's large, but not overwhelmingly so. Perfect destination for a rainy or hot day in Kyoto!Written May 8, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MijoiceSingapore, Singapore41 contributionsVisited this famous Sake brewery after climbing Fushimi Inari which is a short subway ride of 2 stops.
Tickets are ¥600 inclusive of a sake souvenir cup and 3 sake sample token.
Informative video introduction to sake brewing in this area.
Follow by walking through the Exhibit of the various brewing equipment and materials.
Can drink the water used to brew sake in the garden courtyard well fountain.
Highlight of the tour was the sake sampling and explanation by the sake sommelier.
Each visitor get 3 sample tokens and can purchase more at ¥100 each if required.
Can purchase the sake at the well stocked store.Written November 17, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PsykiyaChandler, AZ256 contributionsThe museum is beautiful, but my focus on this particular visit was the Takashi Murakami Mononoke Kyoto. What a beautiful and surprising exhibition. I loved reading the comments and thoughts of Murakami-san, and how the whole project came to be. This is a completely worthy experience for people of any age, if they like art.
One thing I couldn't understand was that if they are trying to raise money, why they:
1) rush people so much at the gift shop (this was VERY annoying)
2) don't have smaller sizes in some of the clothing (I wanted a sweatshirt, but they were huge!)
3) have more variety of design in the current items
4) don't have MORE things (e.g., socks, pens, stationary, keychains, magnets, glasses....etc.).
I feel bad, because I think the gift shop could have brought A LOT MORE to raise the funds needed. I, for example, would have "contributed" -if given the opportunity and the greater selection. Those would have been amazing "omiyage" :-)
If you're in Kyoto, don't miss this exhibition. COMPLETELY WORTH IT!Written May 18, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Ryan MBelfast, UK55 contributionsVisited here to see what it has to offer. The answer is loads of extensive manga books, with a few unique exhibits to see too! It was more book related than anything so visit when you want to chill and read a bit during your visit.Written March 22, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ryan MBelfast, UK55 contributionsThis museum has some unique things to see which other museums don't have, just remember that you won't be able to take pictures throughout most of exhibits as that seems to be what I experienced but it was still fantastic time with lots of historical knowledge bombs.Written March 22, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Phillip RSydney, Australia91 contributionsThis is a fab museum - well worth visiting if only to see the inside of a traditional Japanese house. Kawai Kanjiro was a famous potter and this house is absolutely delightful.Written July 7, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Gary DBusselton, Australia594 contributionsA little hard to find, and not well detailed in Tourism maps...this turned out to be an interesting way to get a local at Japanese Costumes through the ages. We found the Mature lady to be extremely sweet, and although not super fluent wit English said enough in her smiles and gestures to know that we were welcome. The Costume displays are primarily on a small dolls scale, but the workmanship was pretty impressive. Various scenes and displays were portrayed giving an idea of the local dress over the ages...followed up by the chance to dress up like "tools".
You have to do it.....and have your photo taken to confirm.
This was on our walk path around Kyoto....and for $5...was reasonable value.Written September 1, 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Anne L1 contributionThis little museum is one of my favorite places in Japan. Netsuke, iconic representations of important aspects of Japanese culture and history, are tiny miniature sculptures made of wood, ivory, clay, porcelain, nut shells, coral. I’ve only been once, and the exhibits change at least several times a year. This is a private collection, photographs were not allowed when I was there. Don’t miss it if you have the chance, and if you can, bring a magnifying lens.Written January 23, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Pamela A OSeattle652 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.
- Dingo_6152Fremantle, Australia3,340 contributionsThe Nishiji Textile Center is located in the seven-storey "Nishijin" Union building on Horikawa Street, a 10-minute walk south of Imadegawa subway station. The center contains a museum, factory, shop and gallery, and is open Tuesday to Sunday between 10am and 4pm - entry is free and no prior reservations are needed.
The ground floor has a cafe and restrooms, the first floor has one of the best places to shop for souvenirs in Kyoto as the prices are comparatively cheap, particularly if you are after textiles: with kimonos, obis, silk ties, fabric purses, table runners, furoshiki (large square kerchiefs that can be used as a bag or for gift wrapping), prints, socks and a whole lot more. You can also rent and wear kimonos for photos or to stroll the streets of Kyoto.
On the third floor there are sets of weaving looms, where you can watch craftspeople making Nishijin textiles first-hand. You can also book on-line a hands-on weaving experience where you can try your hand at weaving a piece of fabric on mini-looms using traditional methods. ( ¥2,530 for 1hr).
The fourth floor has a permanent exhibition of some of their most outstanding and historical pieces of textile/fabric work/kimonos etc.
This is the place to visit if you are looking at seeing and buying traditional handcrafted Kyoto textiles - that isn't a tourist trap.Written August 20, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Vivien TKL55 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.
