Museum / Science Museum Spots in Kyoto Area

Area

Kyoto
- Japan
- Hokkaido / Tohoku
  
  Hokkaido
  
  Aomori
  
  Iwate
  
  Miyagi
  
  Akita
  
  Yamagata
  
  Fukushima
- Kanto
  
  Ibaraki
  
  Tochigi
  
  Gunma
  
  Saitama
  
  Chiba
  
  Tokyo
  
  Kanagawa
- Koshinetsu / Hokuriku
  
  Niigata
  
  Toyama
  
  Ishikawa
  
  Fukui
  
  Yamanashi
  
  Nagano
- Tokai
  
  Gifu
  
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  Aichi
  
  Mie
- Kinki
  
  Shiga
  
  Kyoto
  
  Osaka
  
  Hyogo
  
  Nara
  
  Wakayama
- Chugoku
  
  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Museum / Science Museum

Yasaka Hall Gion Corner

3.0

522 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Gionmachiminamigawa 570-2 Inside the Yakinikan

Here you can enjoy seven of Japan's traditional arts in the space of about an hour including Kyomai traditional Kyoto dance, Kyogen comedy theater, Gagaku traditional court music, Bunraku puppet theater, koto music, tea ceremony, and ikebana flower arranging. It is located inside the Yasaka Hall in Gion, Kyoto City, nearby the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo theater. In the lobby you'll find pictures of annual festivals held in ''Kyoto Gokagai (five districts)'' (Gion Kobu, Miyagawa-cho, Ponto-cho, Kamishichiken, Gion Higashi) as well as a Maiko gallery showing the ornamental flower pins worn by the Maiko, their hairstyles, and other small items. This is a famous place for seeing the character of Japan and is popular amongst students on school trips and foreign visitors. It is a five-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Line.

This is supposed to be an assortment of Japanese cultural presentations or acts. Frankly watching the tea ceremony from afar and watching someone arrange flowers for 5+ minutes (all with no...
Nishijin Textile Center

3.5

173 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto prefecture Kyoto city Kamigyo-ku Horikawa dori Imadegawa south entrance west side

This meeting hall in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture introduces the charm of Japanese clothing, especially Nishijin silk fabrics, and displays related items. The third floor has a show stage on which they hold the extravagant Kimono Show each hour. With the workshops allowing one to watch artisans up close and the reservation handmaking experience activities, there are facilities for one to watch, sow and experience while learning and having fun. There are also Japanese trinkets on sale including clothing sundries and mufflers made of pure Japan-produced silk.

My wife was a little disappointed. She was hoping for fabric she couldnt get at home in Australia. Nothing extraordinary.
Byodoin Museum Hoshokan

4.5

234 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Uji-shi Uji Renge 116 (Byodoin Keidai)

This museum was opened in 2001 to preserve the collection from the former treasure house, which had deteriorated. The garden is designated as a famous historic landmark, and the building exterior is designed to blend perfectly with it, with special features like using natural lighting in the interior. In addition to being a registered National and Uji City Important Cultural Asset, it also displays a collection of Heian period onigawara gargoyle roof tiles excavated from archaeological sites.

A visit to the museum comes with the entrance price when visiting Byodoin Temple. I found the museum to be a great addition! The museum was pretty large with a lot of great artifacts and information...
Uji City The Tale of Genji Museum

4.0

146 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Ujishi Uji Higashiuchi 45-26

This museum located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture collects and displays materials pertaining to the Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji), the full-length novel by Murasaki Shikibu. Inside, it is divided into video exhibition rooms including the Heian-no-Ma which introduces the world of the Genji Monogatari and the life of Japanese nobles with models and video, and the Uji-no-Ma, which takes the theme of Uji Jujo (The 10 Quires of Uji) in the third part of the Genji Monogatari, which was set in Uji. There are also a teahouse offering Japanese sweets and a shop selling merchandise related to the Genji Monogatari.

This attractive modern museum reveals the ancient and elegant world of the Heian period of Japan through interactive displays, full screen sets and models. The focus? Just one:The Tale of Genji...
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 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...
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.
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...
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。
Ryukoku University Ryukoku Museum

4.0

40 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto Shirokyo-ku Horikawa Dori Front (Nishihonganji Temple in front)

Ryukoku Museum is dedicated to Buddhism and based on the research of Ryukoku University. Visitors learn about Buddhist thought, history, and culture through easy to understand displays of authentic items. In addition, their special theme-based exhibitions and planned exhibitions held a few times a year are always interesting. The museum's first floor cafe and shop can be used without visiting the museum itself.

We decided to stop at this Museum as it started to rain very hard after our visit of the Nishi Hongwangi Temple ( on the other side of the street ) .Lots of children around taking classes and...
Museum of Kyoto

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoutoshi Nakagyou-ku Sanjoutakakura

This museum introduces the history and traditions of Kyoto via a variety of means, providing visitors with a comprehensive understanding of Kyoto culture. The permanent exhibit presents the history of Kyoto from the Heian period to the Showa period via three zones, with a focus on fascinating actual Kyoto artifacts such as cultural properties and costumes used in the Gion Festival. The multiple special exhibits held each year are also popular with visitors. The museum’s theater presents masterworks of film relating to Kyoto. The red brick Annex building, an Important Cultural Property constructed in 1906, was originally the Kyoto branch office of the Bank of Japan. The museum’s Roji Tempo area recreates an Edo period street lined with Kyoto merchants’ homes, and here visitors can enjoy dining and shopping at numerous restaurants and shops. Karasuma Oike Station is the closest station to the museum.
Orinasukan hand-weaving Museum

3.5

25 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto Ward Kamifuku-ji Temple Kamifukuji Upper-stand Distillery 692 Oguro Town

This museum which opened in the first year of the Heisei period (1989) in the traditional oriyadate “Nishijin Textile Building” displays materials and tools related to Japanese hand weaving including Kyoto’s traditional Nishijin silk fabrics. There are 90 items preserved and on display in various themed exhibitions, such as rare pieces of clothing including those worn from the end of the Edo period to beginning of the Showa period, reconstructed Noh theater costumes, and items that have completely disappeared from present-day Japan. There are also workshop viewing and hand-weaving activities available where you can make and take home your own piece. The nearest bus stops are Senbon Kamidachiuri or Imadegawa Jofukuji.

We thoroughly enjoyed this unique museum related to the weaving of high quality silk designs for kimono and obi. After reading several of the negative reviews here I though a few comments would be...
Kyoto School History Museum

4.0

23 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Kyoto-shi Shimogyo-ku Gokochimachidori Bukkoji Sagaru Tachibanacho 437

特定の日は無料で開放されます。２０２０年１１月１４日と１５日は無料です。他の日でも建物の中へ入らなければ、この写真に写っているグランド、建物前までは無料で入れます。特別展とか建物内は有料となります。日本で最初に開設された小学校、幼稚園(開智)の跡地です。興味ある人には良いけど、こう云う古いだけの歴史的建造物には興味が無い(江戸時代以前は別にして)と云う私みたいな人間には有料で入る気はしませんでした...
Fukuchiyama Castle

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Fukuchiyamashi Naiki 5

This castle of the old Fukuchiyama feudal domain in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture is a fortress which belonged to a powerful clan was once known as Yokoyama Castle. It was reconstructed by Akechi Mitsuhide in 1579, who renamed it to Fukuchiyama Castle. Once completed there was a castle tower and various other buildings, but after the castle abandonment orders of the Meiji period many were demolished. Just the stone wall, copper gatehouse and the Toyoiwa-no-i Well remain their original Edo period appearance. The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1986, and the inside was opened as a museum.
Elmar Maizuru

4.0

15 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Maidurushi Chitose 897-1 in Maizuru Ryokai Park

A public relations facility run by the Kansai Electric Power Company which looks like a large yacht. Entry is free. The facility is comprised of floor B1, modeled after a ship's engine room; floor 1, the location of Japan's first oceantop planetarium (separate entry fee required); floor 2, which houses luxury cruise ship-style rooms; and floor 3, which has an observation deck commanding a view of Maizuru Bay. The facility has a variety of entertaining interactive exhibits, and visitors can learn about the history of Maizuru, the workings of the Kansai Electric Power Company, and the mechanisms behind electricity generation. The facility is a great destination for families with children.

館内で電気にまつわる体験やクイズを楽しめます。発電所の色々な役割も学べます。ちょっとしたプラネタリウムがあり、富士山の色々なことや今の時期の星座を楽しめます。雨で、絶景の観光ができない時にもいいかも。
Japanese Oni Exchange Museum

3.5

15 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Prefecture Fukuchiyama city Oemachi Buddha 909

"A museum where you can learn about oni, mythical Japanese creatures similar to ogres and demons. The museum was built on the site of a copper mine in April 1993 as part of an urban revitalization project. The one story museum's exterior is designed to evoke the power of oni. Inside, the museum presents three oni legends connected to Mt. Oe and also has exhibits on traditional performing arts relating to oni as well as oni masks from around the country. The museum's collection of oni dolls and oni folding screen paintings reveal the various facets of Japanese oni, providing visitors with the opportunity to consider just what an ""oni"" is. The museum also has a library and video corner and offers coloring activities and picture story shows for children."

酒呑童子つながりで日本と世界の鬼に関する伝承などを集めた博物館。秋田の男鹿にあるなまはげの民族間と同じ系統の展示で、世界の鬼の系譜やかぶりものなどが展示されている。そうした鬼の民族史や博物を見られるのも楽しいが、ウルトラ怪獣の生みの親、成田亨氏の鬼の絵も見られるのが嬉しい。もう少し山を上ったところには成田亨氏デザインの鬼のモニュメントがあり、こちらも見ておくべきだろう。
Tango Chirimen History Museum

4.0

7 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Kyoto Yosagunyosanochou Iwaya 317

This museum is in Yosano Town, Yosa County, Kyoto Prefecture. Housed in an old factory site, visitors can observe the whole chirimen silk crepe making process from weaving to dyeing. You can also buy silk items like rare cuts of hagire cloth and scarves while getting a feel for the production of silk goods as it's been handed down since the middle Edo period.

歴史館と銘打っていますが、半分は絹製品売り場です。丹後縮緬の歴史に興味があるので、期待して行きましたが、縮緬や丹後地域の歴史的文化的な解説はとおりいっぺんのもので、残念でした。

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour Museum / Science Museum

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.