Museums in kyoto
Traditional weaving at Kyoto textile house @TOKI
Fascinating museums
The Kyoto National Museum
One of the most distinguished Japanese museums, Kyoto National Museum focuses on pre-modern Japanese and Asian art. The permanent exhibition rotates through its different archaeological relics, sculptures, ceramics, calligraphy, costumes and paintings. The museum also offers temporary exhibitions, so there’s always some new fine arts to gaze upon.
National Museum of Modern Art
The National Museum of Modern Art exhibits unique selected works of nihonga (Japanese-style paintings), yōga (Western-style paintings), prints, sculptures, crafts and photography. This museum shows the most outstanding and monumental pieces from famous Japanese artists, as well as pieces by Western artists such as Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Woman admiring art in Kyoto @ Kazuo Ota, Unsplash
Kyoto Shibori Museum
Kyoto Shibori Museum lets visitors look into the world of Japanese silk dying, which has been practiced for more than a thousand years in Japan. The museum holds different exhibitions dedicated to the craft, and guests can take part in the art with the Shibori classes held at the museum.
Kyoto International Manga Museum
Once a primary school building, the International Manga Museum is now lined with manga books for visitors to read. Get lost within the stories of manga and see the history behind the art. The museum has a permanent exhibition and also hosts temporary exhibitions that touch on different subjects and genres within the manga industry.
Kyoto Kyocera Museum
Japan's oldest public art museum that still stands in its original structure. It opened originally as the Enthronement Memorial Museum of Art in 1933. There are vast collections of Japanese and Western style paintings, Chinese glassware, Spanish prints, and various ceramics. Sculptures and paintings can be enjoyed in the lobby of its headquarters. With Higashiyama as its setting, the unification of traditional and modern is a new chapter for the museum.
Raku Museum
The Raku Museum is situated immediately next door to the Raku family home and workshop. It was opened in 1978 by the 14th generation Kakunyû (1918~1980) and has a collection consisting primarily of ceramics made by successive heads of the Raku family, related documents and tea utensils passed down over the generations. The collection has been formed over 450 years as a resource from which future generations can learn about the techniques and artistry of their forebears enabling them to establish each individual style.
Museum Pass
If you are planning to visit various museums during your stay in Kyoto, purchasing the Kansai Grutto pass is recommended to save on the admission fees. The pass costs 1100 yen, and provides a free or discounted admission to about 50 galleries and museums in the Kansai region. Kansai Grutto pass is available from the start of April through the next year's January, and it stays valid for four months from the first use or the last day of March (whichever occurs first).
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