Location: Kyoto
Top Things to do in Kyoto
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Things to do in Kyoto, Kinki: The Best Museums
The shrines and temples of Kyoto offer a rare link between modern life in the city and its very ancient past. The Shimogamo Shrine dates to the 6th century and seems suspended in time, its serenity and spiritual power still palpable. Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, then see the life-sized Thousand Armed Kannon statues of Sanjūsangen-dō. Enjoy traditional geisha performances, then savor a tranquil meal at a restaurant overlooking the Kamo River.
Restaurants in Kyoto
1. Kyoto Seishu Netsuke Art Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
The foremost museum in Japan dedicated to netsuke miniature sculpture, situated in one of Kyoto's last samurai residences, near Nijo Castle. The museum holds an impressive collection of 2,500 pieces dating from the Edo Period to present, 400 of which are shown to the public in special exhibitions 5 times a year.
Reviewed By AnneL3632
This 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.
2. Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
Encounter the beauty and technique of Kyoto traditional crafts We feature the history, processes etc.of each of the 74 kinds of traditional crafts, which have conveyed the history and culture of Kyoto with products and videos. Kyoto, the old capital, was established in 794 as Heian-kyo, and developed as the center of politics, culture and industry. Throughout history, Kyoto has kept taking in new ideas, while at the same time keeping the old ones, and has created various kinds of crafts by utilizing the advantage of a sophisticated design sense coupled with an advanced local economy. Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design is the place where many people discover the industry and culture of Kyoto as well as being introduced to the beauty and technique that have been inherited here.
3. Kaleidoscope Museum of Kyoto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By Rodwilde - Guam, Mariana Islands
On a side street near a subway station, the museum offers a small exhibit of all kinds of different styles of kaleidoscopes, and a short video while we were there. The kids enjoyed it a lot. There is an excellent gift shop, and a coffee shop (which also serves a limited food menu). The coffee shop seating area also doubles as a workshop, and for around $5 our kids were assisted to make their own kaleidoscope in about 20 minutes. We purchased gifts for fields back home, and a signature kaleidoscope for our home. Most enjoyable.
4. Kawai Kanjiro Memorial Museum
5. Jotenkaku Museum
6. Namikawa Yasuyuki Sippo Memorial Museum
7. Senoku Hakukokan, Kyoto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By Cyber0515 - Tokyo, Japan
財閥の一つである住友家が蒐集した古美術が展示されている美術館。その種類は、古代中国の青銅器や明清代の絵画、日本の絵画や書、工芸品に至るまで多岐に多岐に渡るが、特に古代中国の青銅器は目を見張るものがある。3000年以上も前の青銅器のほとんどが完全な形で展示されていることに、誰しも驚きを隠せない。古美術を扱う美術館は、その中でも紀元前の中国の栄華を誇る作品が一堂に介している美術館は、他に見られない。神社・仏閣だけでなく、こういった非常に貴重な古美術を観覧するだけでも、京都に来た価値がある。 美術館は主に大小の2つの展示室に分けられており、大の展示室は常設展で、さらに細かく別れており、時代の変遷と共に変わっていく古代中国の青銅器の姿を見ることが出来る。一方の小の展示室は企画展用に使用され、絵画や書、工芸品などの美術品が展示されている。企画展の方は必ずしも住友家が蒐集した美術品だけではないが、単に蒐集しただけの作品に留まらず、体系的に鑑賞し学んでもらうため、他の美術館からの借り得た作品が展示されていることもある。企画展は一部屋だけであるため少し物足りないかもしれないが、常設展の古代中国の青銅器は、年代や種類は勿論のこと、その時代の祭祀にまつわる様々な意匠や装飾に、しばし圧倒される。古代中国の非常に高い文明が、青銅器の展示からでも確認できるだろう。是非とも後世まで残したい美術館の一つだ。 It is an art museum exhibited antique arts collected by Sumitomo family who was one of Zaibatsu(Giant family concern) in Japan. Those antique arts are various, such as ancient Chinese bronze wares, paintings of Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty, paintings and calligraphy in Japan, and crafts. In particular, you'll be surprised at the number and the good preservation of ancient Chinese bronze wares more than 3000 years ago. I recommend you highly to visit the museum that exhibit antique arts as well as visit shrine and temples in Kyoto. There are two exhibition rooms: permanent exhibition and temporary planned exhibition. In the room of temporary planned exhibition, crafts, paintings and calligraphy collected by Sumitomo family are exhibited. In order to have you know the things to convey and the transition of the times, some arts owned by other museums are also exhibited. I have been so surprised at the ancient Chinese bronze wares in the permanent exhibition room. Design of bronze ware, refinement of carving, none of them seems to be an ancient civilization. It is one of the museums I want it to remain in the future generations!
8. Kyoto Railway Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 685 reviews
Reviewed By OscarLee1933 - Sydney, Australia
Having visited both the Railway Museum in Saitama and Kyoto Railway Museum in the same trip, I would say the Kyoto one offers much better experience to non-rail fanatics, as the interactive displays there did a better job in introducing the different aspects of railway operations. Not only the train driving simulators that appeal to train operator wannabes, but also the "backend" operations like ticket booking. For instance, you can print your own magnetic ticket from a real ticket machine used in JR stations and put it into a fully-functional turnstile, where the image of a steam locomotive will be printed on the ticket for your collection. It is this attention to details that made the Japanese society tick. The roundhouse is also very impressive and the steam locomotive ride is certainly a highlight in my trip to Japan.
9. Kyoto Ukiyo-e Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
The ukiyo-e print began to describe the life of the common people in the late 17th century. And it inspired European great artists, for example, van Gogh, Monet and Debussy. In this museum, you can see the works of great artists, such as Hokusai Katsushika, Hiroshige Utagawa and Utamaro Kitagawa.
Reviewed By deckchairtraveller - Sydney, Australia
This museum had relocated from Kyoto in late 2019. We found it by-chance walking the Namba shopping strips in Osaka. Fantastic place - staff and books/postcards for sale. The "museum entry fee" is small, but in it you get to pick n' take 3 postcards of the ukiyo-e artists. Well worth the visit. NOTE - there is a 2nd ukiyo-e museum close by - between Namba station and Dotonbori shopping area. It seems to specialise in the 'Kabuki style' wood-prints and have stacks of souvenir type things for sale (do both, it's easy and enjoyable).
10. Samurai & Ninja Museum with Experience
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 867 reviews
We are an INTERACTIVE samurai & ninja museum focused on the history of Japan. We are located between the Nishiki Market and the Gion area. We provide tours on the samurai armors, samurai swords, samurai villages and samurai houses. We have family friendly ninja displays and ninja experiences such as ninja blow gun trial and the shuriken throw. Ninja lessons and ninja experiences in the ninja offered daily. Families, couples and martial arts fans welcome. We also have a distinctive samurai souvenir shop if you'd like to buy a samurai sword in Kyoto. You can buy authentic Edo period swords and carbon replica swords in addition to types of katana and wakizashi. We also have an extensive sword exhibition. Kyoto's best rated samurai, ninja, martial arts and history museum. A samurai village and samurai house feeling including a ninja dojo inside the museum. The ninja park for kids and a separate kimono tea ceremony room for families also available.
Reviewed By watsonUk
Great experience for the kids - they enjoyed the samurai experience and ninja star / blow guns. Tour was at a good level of detail to be interesting to kids and for adults - in English and well spoke.
