10 Best Museums in Kyoto

The Kyoto National Museum is home to an exquisite collection of archaeological artifacts, calligraphy, sculptures, paintings, ceramics, lacquer work and more. The museum has up to 6,000 exhibits on display at any one time. Special exhibitions change regularly so just stop in the beautiful Meiji-era red brick building for details or check online for more details. The museum is walking distance from Shichijo subway station.

The beautiful and spectacular Kyoto Imperial Palace lies in a huge park north of downtown Kyoto. It was the residence of the Imperial Family before the capital was relocated to Tokyo in 1868. The palace itself is closed to the public, but the park is open all year round and is a very popular spot for family picnics on weekends. The entire palace complex is encircled by an earthen wall and covers 27 acres. It has 5 gates with the southern gate as the main entrance to the grounds. The palace itself was destroyed by fire a few times and the current palace was rebuilt in 1855 with traditional methods. The stunning gardens still follow the original design.

The park features many historical sites including ancient temples and visitors can join an English-language tour of the Imperial Palace grounds. The tour runs during the week only at 10am and 2pm. To book the tour, contact the Imperial Household Agency at the Kyoto Office. 

If you've always wanted to try on a kimono, the Nishijin Textile Centre is the place to go in Kyoto. Dress up as an apprentice geisha in an elegant 12-layered ceremonial kimono and have your photo taken, of course! This textile museum has wonderful exhibits of Japanese clothing and cloth, ancient textiles and demonstrations of hand looms by master craftspeople. Free kimono fashion shows are staged at regular times throughout the day. Find this popular tourist spot in Nishijin, Kyoto’s traditional weaving district.   

The Kyoto Museum for World Peace is located in Ritsumeikan University. Using simulations, films, photographs and replicas, this museum’s purpose is to spread world peace. The museum has 3 areas devoted to the 15-year Japan War, World War II, and War and Peace since 1945. A centerpiece of the museum is a sculpture created by Hongo Shin in honour of the students whose studies were cut short by the WWII mobilization in 1943. Most of the descriptions and display materials are in Japanese, but English language guidebooks are available at reception.

A grand, old Meiji-period building houses this fascinating contemporary museum. With excellent audio-visual displays, scale models of Kyoto in bygone days and an amazing life-size street scene that recreates Kyoto during the Edo period, the museum is interactive and interesting. The museum also has a section devoted to the Kyoto film industry. Audio guides are available in Japanese and English.

The Kyoto Museum of Traditional crafts features traditional handicrafts such as kimonos, Japanese dolls, paper fans, umbrellas, boxwood combs, lacquer ware, Buddhist warship set and porcelain. This excellent museum also has detailed information about Japan's traditional industries. Explanations are in Japanese and English. Before leaving, don’t forget to check out the crafts shop where you can pick up many interesting and beautifully designed souvenirs.

Avant-garde painter Insho Domoto designed the contemporary architecture of this interesting museum and was awarded the Order of Cultural Merits for his work in 1961. The Kyoto Prefectural Insho-Domoto Museum of Fine Arts exhibits wonderful modern art, paintings and sculpture. Within walking distance from Kinkaku-ji, it's an interesting stop when in the Kita Ward of northern Kyoto. 

This private villa was the home of a great Japanese silent movie star Denjiro Okochi who rose to fame in the 1920s for his samurai films. The 20,000 sq m villa sits in a wonderfully peaceful location with stunning views of Arashiyama and Kyoto. It took around 30 years to complete and has many ornate touches inside and out. The garden is designed to highlight all four seasons with pines, maples, cherry blossoms and azaleas. The price of admission includes a cup of tea and some cake to make the experience even sweeter. To reach this stunning villa, take the JR San-in line to Saga station.

This interesting museum located in the historic sake-making district in southern Kyoto houses a great collection of over 6,000 traditional sake making implements. Many of the items have been declared Folk Craft Cultural Assets and depict how little authentic sake making techniques have changed over the centuries. This is also a good place to sample sake and pick up a bottle of Kyoto’s finest to take home. To find the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, take the Keihan Line to Chushojima Station