Leisure / Hobbies Spots in Kyoto Area

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Kyoto
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  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Leisure / Hobbies

Toei Kyoto Studio Park

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Uzumasahigashihachiokachou 10

A movie theme park located in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City which makes portions of the Toei Kyoto film studio open to the public. The park offers a variety of events and attractions, including the chance to see how television programs and movies are filmed on a recreated open set, historical dram sword fight and acting shows, a haunted house, and classes on theatrical sword fighting. The park also hosts restaurants and cafes. People of all ages can enjoy an entire day of fun at Toei Kyoto Studio Park. The park’s variety of opportunities to try out movie and TV related costumes are particularly popular, from simple costumes like those worn in historical dramas that can be put on in 15-20 minutes to photography sessions taken by professional photographers.
Kyoto Railway Museum

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Shimogyou-ku Kankijichou

A museum dedicated to railways located on the western side of Kyoto Station. The museum features some 31 thousand square meters of exhibition space, which was the largest in Japan when the facility first opened. The facility displays 53 trains which helped lead the modernization of Japan. The museum is full of other interesting sights and activities, as well, including a giant railroad diorama, a train which visitors can ride pulled by a real steam engine, and a train simulator which shows what it's like to drive a train. The museum also provides a variety of cultural activities such as guided tours and workshops conducted by JR West Japan employees. Walk 20 minutes west from the central entrance of JR Kyoto Station.
Kyoto Botanical Garden

3.5

4 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Shimogamohangichou

Opened in 1924, this is Japan’s oldest public botanical garden. Some 120 thousand plants grow on the garden’s spacious grounds, spanning some 12 thousand varieties. The south side of the garden features the front entrance flower beds blooming with seasonal flowers, a rose garden, and one of the largest greenhouses in Japan, were visitors can enjoy rare tropical plants such as welwitschia and baobab. The north side of the garden includes the virgin Nakaragi Forest and a garden presenting a natural plant ecology as well as cherry trees, Japanese apricot trees, and Japanese irises. The cherry tree blossoms from mid-March to late April are truly splendid and their illumination at night is a must-see. Children of junior high school age and younger as well as senior citizens 70 years of age and older may enter free. Kitayama Station is the closest station to the garden.

植物園の中には他に飲食のできるお店がないので、カフェが飲みたくなれば、ここに来ることになる。周囲は芝生の広がるスペースで、非常に気持ちがいい。うどんなどの簡単な軽食もあるようだ。
Kyoto National Museum

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Chayachou 527

A museum located in the Chaya-cho neighborhood of Higashiyama Ward which first opened in 1897 as the Imperial Museum of Kyoto. The museum changed to its current name in 1952. Visitors can enjoy viewing the museum’s collection of masterpieces and historic objects, including National Treasures, such as paintings, carvings, writings, and swords. The museum also holds special exhibitions.
Ryozen Museum of History

4.0

65 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Seikanjiryousanchou 1

The museum is located to the southeast of Kodaiji Temple, across from the Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine. The museum opened in 1970 as Japan's first museum specializing in comprehensive research on the history of the period from the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867) to the Meiji Restoration (around 1868-1889). A large number of relics and other materials belonging to historical figures active in the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate, both on the side of bakufu (the Shogunate) side and tobaku-ha (overthrowing-the-Shogunate group) have been collected and researched. The exhibition is held based on a theme selected from over 5,000 pieces of materials.

This isnt a good or bad review. Just a warning to English speakers. On our first attempt to visit, we hiked the long walk uphill from the bus-stop in 34° heat. The museum was closed. We later found...
The Cube

4.0

79 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto Ward, Karasuma-dori Saltwater Road Down Le Higashi Salinkocho Town 901 Kyoto Station Building

A shopping mall located inside the Kyoto Station building offering fashionable apparel, gourmet foods, and Kyoto souvenirs. Comprised of the B2 fashion floor, B1 Kyoto souvenir and goods floor, first floor Kyoto sweets floor, and 11th floor restaurant street, the facility is connected directly to Kyoto Station, which serves a variety of JR train lines.

A shopping area inside Kyoto station, with plenty of opportunities to buy Japan and Kyoto related souvenirs, such as local products and snacks, for both Japanese and foreign tourists. Worth a look if...
SHOZAN RESORT KYOTO

4.0

75 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Kita-ku Kinugasakagamiishicho 47

We did this as an evening bus tour , which included a lovely meal and a Maiko dance performance and a walk through the Shozan Garden resort in the evening . Was a very beautiful experience , food was...
Hosomi Museum

4.0

83 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Okazakisaishoujichou 6-3

An art museum primarily dedicated to ancient Japanese art located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. The museum first opened in 1998. The museum displays pieces collected by three generations of the Hosomi family, which was started by industrialist and Japanese art collector Kokoan Hosomi. The museum’s collection spans some 1,000 pieces and covers virtually every genre and period of Japanese art, including Shinto and Buddhist art, tea ceremony art, and Edo paintings. The museum holds a variety of special exhibits. It also houses a tea room and shop and is adjoined by a café, making it a popular place for art lovers.

Entry costs 1400 yen for an adult. You see a few very nice old paintings, and then some memology of them. Like a hokusai painting but with Atom Boy or Hatsume Miku painted in. Which is almost like...
Amanohashidate Beach

4.0

109 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Miyadushi Monju

Approximately a seven-minute walk from the Amanohashidate Station of the Kyoto Tango Railway, and about a 10-minute drive from the Miyazu Amanohashidate Interchange off of the Kyoto Jukan Expressway, this beach is located in a westerly direction towards the ocean, starting from the north side of the Daitenkyo Bridge. One of the attractive features of this beach is its direct accessibility from the Shotenkyo Bridge through the many minshuku and ryokan lodgings. The swimming season opens every year in mid-July, filling the beach with visitors who are enjoying the white sand, clear blue water and the green trees that dot the Amanohashidate, which is lighted up at night every year for a limited time only.

Clean beach, great for family and friends gathering. You can walk from end to end in the beach, takes around 50 minutes. There are two parts of beaches, the south part and the north part of the long...
Shokoku-ji Temple Jotenkaku Museum

4.5

69 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Kamigyo-ku Imadegawa-ku Karasuma Dongyu

This art museum is on the grounds of Shokoku-ji Temple in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. It opened in 1984 as part of the celebrations of Shokoku-ji Temple's 600-year anniversary. It collects and displays writings, paintings, and works of art from a variety of temples including Shokoku-ji Temple, Rokuon-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion), Jisho-ji Temple (the Silver Pavilion), and other sub-temples. Here you can see five National Treasures of Japan, 145 Important Cultural Properties of Japan, and a great number of Cultural Properties of Japan. Their permanent displays include famous painted sliding doors from Rokuon-ji Temple by Ito Jakuchu, ''Budo Shokinzu'' (Grapes and Small Bird) and ''Tsukiyo Bashozu'' (Japanese banana on a moonlight night).

コロナが落ち着いていた12月半ばに伺いました。人気もなく、ゆっくりじっくり拝観出来ました。何といっても、若冲の襖絵が圧巻。ちょうどベンチが置いてあるので、そこに座って暫く眺めていました。至福の時でした。少し前に、若冲の展覧会があった様ですが、またその様な催しがあれば、東京から駆け付けます。
Kyoto Concert Hall

4.5

15 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Shimogamohangichou 1-26

This municipal concert hall opened in 1995 in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Equipped with the best audio equipment for classical music, there is a pipe organ in its shoebox-style 1,833-seat large hall made by renowned German specialist Johannes Klais Orgelbau GmbH & Co. KG. The 510-seat small hall is made for small orchestras and chamber music. The 12 pillars of the entrance hall and helical smooth slopes make up a refined architecture that is not to be missed.

Kyōto Concert Hall is located near Subway Kitayama station. You can go directly from JR Kyōto station and Subway Shijo station. The modern building is very comfortable and the acoustics of the hall...
Costume Museum

4.0

37 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi, Shimogyo-ku Horikawa Don Shin-Hanaya Town Downtown Izuchi Left Beef Building 5F

Opened in 1974, the Costume Museum features exhibits of Japanese clothing and customs around it dating from ancient to modern times. In 2012 they added a 1:4 scale exhibition on the early and middle Heian period. It lets visitors experience the world of the Heian period with the five senses and the transformations that took place over its 400 years.

Very small. On 5th floor. So well done, no crowd, colorful and accurate. An oasis in contrast to larger exhibits. Especially kind representation of females.
Garden of Fine Arts Kyoto

4.0

59 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Sakyo-ku Shimogamohangicho

"A one-minute walk from Kitayama Station and a five-minute walk from the ""Kitayama Ekimae"" bus stop. This outdoor art museum adjoins the Kyoto Concert Hall. The museum consists of murals created with ceramic tiles. The museum is a world-first experiment at creating a mural garden enjoyed outdoors. In total, there are eight murals on display, four of which were exhibited at the 1990 International Garden and Greenery Exposition. The remaining four were newly created and thus can only be viewed here."

It is a very small open-air museum, which is located at the exit of Subway Kitayama station. All art objects are imitations, but they are so impressive as if they were real ones. “Ultima cena” is of...
Japan Kanji Museum and Library

4.0

48 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Gionmachiminamigawa 551

This hands-on experiential museum is full of surprise and discovery with exhibits that, beyond just looking at kanji (Chinese characters), let you touch, learn about, and have fun with them. It's divided into a graphic exhibit and theater on the first-floor and a theme park-like exhibit area and library on the second-floor. Wherever you go it's designed to have fun while learning, and both kids and adults love it. They also hold various courses and lectures.

We could learn the history and the origin of Kanji. My 5&8 years old daughters were so excited to stamp their name and the country’s name in Kanji. The 2nd floor is lots of fun, too. There are some...
Kyoto International Conference Center

Life / Living / Hospital

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Iwakuraosagichou 422

An international conference center which was built as Japan's first national conference facility. Used as a space by many for exchange and gatherings, in addition to the main building and an event hall, the facility is also adjoined by a hotel. The facility also has a Japanese garden on the grounds surrounded by lush natural beauty which is dedicated to the theme of people gathering and talking in nature.
Maizuru WorldBrick Museum

3.5

50 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Maidurushi Hama 2011

The Maizuru World Brick Museum was constructed as a torpedo warehouse for the Maizuru naval base in 1903. It's said to be one of the oldest brick and steel frame buildings still standing in Japan. The museum conveys the charm of Japanese brick architecture and its history through exhibits like Bricks of the World, The Hoffman Kiln, The Story of Japanese Bricks, and Bricks and Maizuru City.

Not sure about previous reviews, as what do you expect from what is called a Brick Museum! Yes it is literally a museum of bricks - do not go there unless this is what you want! We are from...
Kyoto Arashiyama Orgel Museum

4.0

43 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Ukyou-ku Sagatenryujitateishichou 1-38

The Kyoto Arashiyama Orgel Museum is about five minutes' walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station in Kyoto's Ukyo Ward. It houses a collection of more than 150 valuable music boxes, including the oldest music box in the world. Visitors can see demonstrations of Western-made automata and buy music boxes of their own in the museum shop.

The Kyoto Arashiyama Orgel Museum was another tourist spot particularly for music lovers. You could see many music boxes inside and to relax with a cup of coffee at the lounge there.
The Kyoto University Museum

4.0

27 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Sakyou-ku Yoshidahonmachi Kyoto University General Museum

This museum, located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, archives and displays erstwhile cultural items of each of the research laboratories and departments of the Kyoto University. Divided into three exhibitions areas, the permanent exhibits house fossils and plants in the natural history area, literature and maps in the cultural history area, and models of mechanical devices in the technological history area. Periodical exhibits and children's exhibits as well as other events are regularly held.

京都大学総合博物館は、京都大学に隣接した。百万遍の近くにあります。大人の入場料は400円です。色々な標本が展示されていて楽しく拝見しました。私の場合は、入館するのが遅かったので、約1時間で見終わりました。閉館時間が、15時30分なので、もう少し遅い方が良かったです。
Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum

4.0

41 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Kiyomizu Buddhist temple in front of Shimokita Shimizu 3-337-1

An art museum dedicated to collecting and displaying primarily cloisonné ware, gold and silver lacquerware, metalwork, earthenware, and carvings from the late Edo, Meiji, and Taisho periods. The owner, enchanted with the artworks of the Meiji period made with such fine technique, came up with the idea of opening a museum after attempting to purchase masterpieces from the period that had ended up overseas. The contents of the museum’s standing exhibits is completely changed out once each year. The Museum also holds special exhibitions every three months.

Its not a very big museum, but that just adds to the whole coziness of the place. Exhibits are nicely done in a traditional way.
Raku Museum

4.0

42 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Kamigyo-ku Osho-koji Road Ichijo Ru

Raku ware is an art and craft form which has existed from some 450 years, since the Momoyama period. This art museum, adjoining the Raku ware studio, was founded in 1978 on Aburanokouji Street Ichijo kudaru by Raku Kichizaemon, 14th head of the family. The museum’s collection of historic pieces, tea ceremony implements, and ancient documents spanning have been passed down for 450 years to serve as models for the next generation and serves as the core of the tradition that is Raku ware.

The exhibit we saw was a small collection of ancient tea bowls and some modern versions. The explanations were very brief and highly specialized. If you are not already a fan of Raku ancient bowls, I...

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Kyoto Areas

Its wooden tea houses, shuffling geisha, and spiritual sights have seen Kyoto hailed as the heart of traditional Japan, a world apart from ultramodern Tokyo. Despite being the Japanese capital for over a century, Kyoto escaped destruction during World War II, leaving behind a fascinating history which can be felt at every turn, from the fully gold-plated Kinkakuji Temple down to traditional customs such as geisha performances and tea ceremonies, which are still practiced to this day.