Kyoto National Museum

The Kyoto National Museum endeavors to showcase the best of Japanese art and history. The museum, which was founded in 1897, uses the displays to teach visitors about Kyoto before and after its inception as the capital city. The complex is one of the national museums of Japan. Its collections of more than 12,000 items are spread across several impressive buildings. With a café, tearoom and store, tourists can spend a pleasant afternoon around the site’s grounds.

Enter through the Main Gate and its dome spires. From here, admire the redbrick Special Exhibition Hall with a backdrop of green, rolling mountains. There are elaborate fountains in the foreground. Browse the building’s galleries and temporary displays in dimly lit settings. Learn about the displays through their descriptions in English. Find exhibitions on many topics, from sculptures, music and other artwork to temples and historic artifacts. The demonstrations vary throughout the year.

Quench your thirst at the traditional Japanese teahouse, Tan’an, in the East Garden. Make your way to Café Karafuneya for rest and some food. Peruse the museum store to find souvenirs such as books, postcards and other informative items.

Exhibitions are closed on Mondays but stay open later on Fridays. Otherwise, viewings commence in the morning and conclude late in the afternoon. Admission fees vary depending on particular exhibitions.

You can find the Kyoto National Museum right next to the Sanjūsangen-dō Temple and the Toyokuni Shrine in the Higashiyama Ward. Take a bus from Kyoto Station. Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae bus stop is just 1 minute on foot from the museum. The site is a short walk from Shichijo Station, which is on the Keihan Railroad. If you drive to the museum, you can park in the lot for free for the first hour; just be sure to present your parking ticket in the museum to receive the discount.