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Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University

MilitaryHistoryOpen until 4:30pmFrom £400Ritsumeikan Daigaku-mae bus stop (City Bus 15, 50, 55, 59), 5 min walk

Ritsumeikan University opened the Kyoto Museum for World Peace in 1992 as the world's first comprehensive peace museum founded by a university. A full renewal completed in September 2023 rebuilt the permanent exhibition around the concept "PEACE × PIECE": a 70-metre timeline, four theme galleries on Japan's empire, the Fifteen Years' War, the struggle for dignity and human security, and a participatory "Question Plaza". The building also houses the Kyoto Annex of Mugonkan, showing works by art students killed in the war, a hall for special exhibitions and a free peace library.

What's On

Now
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Oct
Nov
Dec

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

56-1 Toji-in Kitamachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8577, Japan

Nearest station: Ritsumeikan Daigaku-mae bus stop (City Bus 15, 50, 55, 59), 5 min walk, Waratenjin-mae bus stop (City Bus 204, 205), 10 min walk, Enmachi Station (JR Sagano Line), then City Bus 15

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Hours

Closed 22 September

Closed (day after national holiday)

Closed 24 September

Closed (day after national holiday)

Closed 13 October

Closed (day after national holiday)

Mon09:30–16:30
Tue09:30–16:30
Wed09:30–16:30
Thu09:30–16:30
FriToday09:30–16:30
Sat09:30–16:30
SunClosed

Admission

From £400

Junior high and high school students 300 yen, elementary 200 yen; groups of 20+ 50 yen off. Free with a disability, hibakusha or war-injury certificate (plus one carer), and for Ritsumeikan students and staff. The 2F Peace Commons and the peace library are free. Free admission days: 3 Nov and (planned) 14 Nov 2026.

Nearby

Kyoto Prefectural Insho-Domoto Museum of Fine Arts

Architecture2 min walk

Raku Museum

Art31 min walk

Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo)

Architecture34 min walk

Kyoto International Manga Museum

Art46 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University cost?
Standard adult admission to Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University is £400. Junior high and high school students 300 yen, elementary 200 yen; groups of 20+ 50 yen off. Free with a disability, hibakusha or war-injury certificate (plus one carer), and for Ritsumeikan students and staff. The 2F Peace Commons and the peace library are free. Free admission days: 3 Nov and (planned) 14 Nov 2026.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University?
Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University is open Mon-Sat 9:30-16:30 (last entry 16:00). Closed Sundays and the day after a national holiday (open on the holiday itself; when a holiday falls on Sunday it opens and closes the next day). Also closed over New Year, at the end of March and on some university summer-break days. Closed 22 and 24 Sep and 13 Oct 2026.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University?
Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University is located at 56-1 Toji-in Kitamachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8577, Japan, in the Kinugasa area of Kyoto. The nearest stations are Ritsumeikan Daigaku-mae bus stop (City Bus 15, 50, 55, 59), 5 min walk, Waratenjin-mae bus stop (City Bus 204, 205), 10 min walk, Enmachi Station (JR Sagano Line), then City Bus 15.
What can I see at Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University?
The world's first university-run peace museum, facing war, empire and the work of peace through a 70-metre timeline Current highlights include Children during the War: Children's Lives in the Showa 10s (1935-1944), Chinese Jianzhi Papercuts and Ethnic Minority Cultures, The Hiroshima Panels: A Place to Think Together about the Future.
Do I need to book Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

RoyHalzenski / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

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