Explore Kyoto's ＜Top 3＞ Renowned Museums: Traditional Japanese Art, Contemporary Works, and Anime Culture

Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan and a treasure house of traditional Japanese culture, is home to many of Japan's leading museums and art museums.

Among them, the museums built by the national government and the city of Kyoto offer the opportunity to view valuable works of art that are national treasures or important cultural properties.

From the profound black-and-white world of “Suiboku-ga” (ink painting) and beautiful “Sho” (calligraphy), which includes the uniquely Japanese kana script, to contemporary art and recent popular anime, you will be drawn into the world of Japan's unique culture. I am sure you will be drawn into the unique world of Japan.

In this article, I, a resident of Kyoto, would like to recommend three famous art museums in Kyoto that I recommend visiting when sightseeing in Kyoto.

They are also recommended as rainy day excursions!

Have You Heard About the Hello Kitty Hotel in Kyoto? They Also Have a Kuromi Room!

1. Kyoto National Museum

The Kyoto National Museum, located about a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station, is a beautiful French Renaissance-style brick building built on a vast expanse of land.

There is a large fountain, and two gardens on the west and east sides display Japanese stone Buddhas, cornerstones, and stone bridge pillars, which can be enjoyed as a walking course on sunny days.

The Kyoto National Museum was built in 1897 to complement the collection of cultural properties in Kyoto, a city with a particularly high concentration of cultural assets.

The museum houses a collection of more than 8,000 objects, including 29 national treasures and 200 important cultural properties, as well as 6,500 objects deposited, including 88 national treasures and 615 important cultural properties.

Depending on the time of the year, the museum holds gorgeous exhibitions of works by famous artists and treasures owned by shrines and temples, with themes such as ink painting, Buddhist art, calligraphy, and early modern paintings.

Especially in spring and fall, the tourist season, large-scale exhibitions are held, making this museum a must-see if you are interested in Japanese art.

【【# Kyohaku Masterpieces Gallery]
This work is the story of the tragic love affair between Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Kwei-Fei, a long epic poem by Bai Juyi.# long-suffering songThe theme of this painting is "The Dancing Yang Guifei. Emperor Xuanzong, holding a dragon flute in his hand, looks on as Yang Guifei dances in a glamorous manner. The tidy composition and the unique form of the pine trees and rocks are characteristic of Yamasetsu. 2F-4 Early Modern Paintings: "Kano School in Kyoto# Kano Yama SnowThe "Mere Old Man" will be available until 7/28. pic.twitter.com/TsyRslDHq6

- Kyoto National Museum (@KyotoNatMuseum) July 26, 2024

The museum also offers a wide variety of original museum goods, so art lovers can purchase rare souvenirs.

The museum is located near other popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto, such as Sanjusangendo and Chishakuin Temple, so a quick visit when you have some free time is recommended.

▼ Kyoto National Museum
Address: 527 Chayamachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone:075-525-2473
Hours: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm (admission until 4:30 pm) * Admission may be available until 7:30 pm on Fridays depending on the exhibition.
Closed: Monday (if Monday is a holiday or national holiday, the museum will be open on Monday and closed on the following Tuesday)
Admission for special exhibitions: Adults 1,800 yen, University students 1,200 yen, High school students 700 yen
Official website:https://www.kyohaku.go.jp/jp/

2. Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art

About 8 minutes from Higashiyama Subway Station. Located in front of the Otorii gate of Heian Jingu Shrine, a popular tourist spot, the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art is a historic museum that opened in 1933.

The building is the oldest public art museum in Japan, and a new building for contemporary art, the Higashiyama Cube, was built in 2020.

The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art has a “Collection Room” featuring masterpieces by Kyoto painters, “The Triangle” supporting up-and-coming artists, and other traditional Japanese art facilities. “ and other exhibitions of traditional Japanese art from various periods and genres.

There have been few museums in Kyoto where visitors can enjoy contemporary art, but at the “Kyoto Kyocera Museum of Art,” visitors can experience “cutting-edge art by Japanese artists” who are active around the world!

The museum also holds exhibitions of the popular anime Doraemon and Studio Ghibli works, so anime lovers should definitely consider visiting the museum.

Takashi Murakami's "Mononoke Kyoto" at the Kyocera Museum of Art. It has been five months since I visited in March, just after the opening of the exhibition. During that time, new works have been added and unfinished works have been completed. I was hoping to visit again, and was lucky enough to win the lottery for a gallery talk, so I revisited. It was very meaningful to hear not only the introduction of the works, but also the background of the exhibition and the story behind the exhibition. pic.twitter.com/JYb7pWI9tH

- Bear (@nancy04321234) August 22, 2024

The Japanese Garden occasionally displays works by the artists of the exhibitions.

Below is a giant sculpture created by Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami in collaboration with Louis Vuitton, which was displayed in the garden during his exhibition.

The "garden" is a great place to take pictures, so be sure to take a tour when you visit the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art.

The rooftop terrace attached to the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art has a beautiful view of the city of Kyoto and is well known for its beautiful scenery.

Although the terrace is often full, you can enjoy not only tea but also lunch at the stylish cafe, so if you are interested, check out the cafe as well.

The "Kyoto Ingredient Okazu Plate" from ENFUSE, a café at the Kyoto Kyocera Museum of Art. It is 1,500 yen (excluding tax) and contains 15 different kinds of dishes. +Add an onigiri (rice ball) for 150 yen. pic.twitter.com/XtjlS7L2Lb

- Mamoru Takatani (@Rekifechi) December 4, 2020

The museum store offers a variety of exhibition-related and original goods, and is a good place to buy souvenirs and gifts.

▼Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
Address: 124 Enshoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone:075-771-4334
Hours: 10:00 am -6:00 pm (*Last admission time varies depending on the exhibition)
Closed: Mondays (*Open on national holidays) / Year-end and New Year holidays (December 28 - January 2)
Fee: Varies with each exhibition
Official website:https://kyotocity-kyocera.museum/

3. The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, located right in front of the aforementioned KYOCERA Museum of Art, Kyoto, is an art museum that houses a large collection of Japanese modern art and other art from Kyoto, Kansai and western Japan.

The museum's history dates back to 1962, and the current building was completed in 1986.

Located in the Okazaki district, the cultural center of Kyoto City, the museum is close to famous temples and shrines such as Heian Shrine and Nanzenji Temple, making it easy to visit while sightseeing.

Exhibitions are held on a wide range of subjects, from modern to contemporary, including paintings, sculptures, prints, various crafts, design, architecture, photography, and video from Japan and around the world.

The relatively new works on display will make you feel familiar with them.

I visited the Kyoto National Museum for a preview of the special exhibition "The Culture of Tea Ceremony in Kyoto," which opens tomorrow, Saturday, August 8. The exhibition introduces the culture of the tea ceremony, which symbolizes Kyoto and Japan, through a number of masterpieces including 23 national treasures and restored exhibits of the Wabino-teahouse and the Golden Teahouse produced by Rikyu. → (continued)# Chanoyu Exhibition pic.twitter.com/jCRSyh6Zfx

- Art Exhibition Navi (@art_ex_japan) October 7, 2022

On the first floor of the museum, there is a large space facing the Lake Biwa Canal, where visitors can sit in chairs and spend their time as they please.

The cafe attached to the museum is a great place to enjoy lunch or tea while admiring the cherry blossoms and fresh greenery along the canal.

It is a good place to visit when you are tired of the crowds or just want to take a breather.

The relaxed flow of time at the museum is sure to soothe you.

▼ The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Address: 26-1 Okazaki Enshoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone:075-761-4111
Hours: 10:00 - 6:00 pm (admission until 5:30 pm) *Friday during special exhibitions may be open until 7:30 pm
Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a holiday, the museum is closed the following day) / Year-end and New Year's holidays
Fee: Varies depending on the exhibition
Official website:https://www.momak.go.jp/

Let's experience Japanese art at museums in Kyoto!

As you can see, Kyoto has many wonderful museums where you can enjoy not only traditional art but also modern and contemporary art.

Among them, the three museums introduced here, the Kyoto National Museum, the KYOCERA Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, are the major museums in Kyoto. If you are interested in art and traditional Japanese culture, you should definitely visit these museums.