Location: Kyoto
Top Things to do in Kyoto
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What to do and see in Kyoto, Kinki: The Best Specialty 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. 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.
2. 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!
3. Kyoto Greek Roman Museum
4. 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.
5. Chiso Gallery
6. 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.
7. Costume Museum
8. Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 322 reviews
Reviewed By 260gillianc - Melbourne, Australia
This was a spontaneous addition to our itinerary whilst in Kyoto. My partner wanted to taste sake whilst travelling in Japan. This brewery, now museum was great value for money. We paid about 400 yen entry which includes the museum, tasting of two sake varieties and plum wine, as well as a little bottle of sake each as a souvenir. We were pleasantly surprised at how interesting the museum was, we learnt a lot and enjoyed our tasting, also purchasing a bottle of the plum wine which was delicious. The staff were friendly and welcoming. All explanations were in English too.
9. Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts & Culture
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 7 reviews
Saga-Arashiyama Museum of Arts & Culture is opened in November 1st, 2018. The main exhibition changes 4 times per year. Currently we hold "We Love Arashiyama" exhibition which show you various Japanese paintings from the 17th to the 19th century associated with the area. The permanent exhibition is about Hyakunin Isshu (one hundred poets, one poem each), which is the most famous anthology of Waka poems, that was born in Arashiyama. The cafe "Arashiyama OMOKAGE Terrace" facing a calm garden is a hidden gem, where you can have a light lunch and drinks. The cafe can be used without admission fee. Admission Fee: Adults (Above 18 years old) 900 yen High School Students (16 to 18 years old) 500 yen Younger Students (7 to 15 years old) 300 yen
