Kyoto National Museum

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The Tale of Genji: Radiant Culture of the Japanese Imperial Court

Some 250 works inspired by Murasaki Shikibu's classic, including Teika's Blue-Cover manuscript and the scattered "Phantom Genji Scrolls". Two installations.

Now showing6 Oct – 29 Nov¥2,200

Layered Histories: Renowned Tea Utensils and Their Boxes

Famed tea utensils shown with the boxes and silk pouches handed down with them, including the National Treasure Ido tea bowl "Kizaemon".

Upcoming22 Dec – 22 Mar 2027¥700

Goats and Lambs, Ewes and Rams: Celebrating the Year of the Sheep

New Year feature for the 2027 zodiac: how sheep, rarely seen in Japan, were nonetheless pictured in Japanese art. Gallery 2F-2.

Upcoming22 Dec – 7 Feb 2027¥700

Early Inhabitants of Wazuka Valley: Discovering Who Was Buried in the Harayama Tumulus

Special viewing in the archaeology gallery (3F-2) on the people buried in the Harayama Tumulus in the Wazuka Valley.

Upcoming2 Jan 2027 – 22 Mar 2027¥700

Celebrating the Japanese Doll Festival

The museum's annual display of hina dolls for Hina Matsuri, with lavish model palaces popular in Kansai and other dolls made in Kyoto.

Upcoming13 Feb 2027 – 22 Mar 2027¥700

The Great Kano School: Master Painters of Japan

130th-anniversary retrospective of Japan's dominant painting dynasty. Part I Muromachi-Momoyama (20 Apr-30 May), Part II Edo-Meiji (8 Jun-19 Jul 2027).

Upcoming20 Apr 2027 – 19 Jul 2027

Permanent Collections

Outdoor Exhibits and Museum Gardens

Gardens around the Meiji Kotokan with an early cast of Rodin's The Thinker, Hideyoshi's 1588 Hoko-ji stonewall, 13th-century stone pagodas and Gojo Bridge piers.

Permanent collection¥300

Collection Exhibitions, Heisei Chishinkan Wing

Rotating displays of the collection by genre: Buddhist sculpture, handscrolls, paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, lacquer. Not shown during special exhibitions.

Permanent collection¥700

Nearby

i

Kawai Kanjiro's House

Architecture5 min walk

teamLab Biovortex Kyoto

teamLab Biovortex Kyoto

Children12 min walk

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Museum "EKi" KYOTO

Design18 min walk

Kahitsukan – Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art

Kahitsukan – Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art

Art19 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Kyoto National Museum cost?

Standard adult admission to Kyoto National Museum is ¥700. 700 yen covers the Collection Exhibitions (university students 350 yen). Gardens-only periods 300 yen. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately (e.g. The Tale of Genji: 2,200 yen). Collection galleries and gardens free for under-18s, over-70s and visitors with disabilities plus one carer.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.

What are the opening hours of Kyoto National Museum?

Kyoto National Museum is open Tue-Sun 9:30-17:00, Fridays until 20:00 (last entry 30 min before closing). Closed Mondays; when Monday is a national holiday it opens and closes the following Tuesday. During special exhibitions hours are 9:00-17:30 (Fri 9:00-20:00). Galleries closed for re-installation 7 Sep-5 Oct 2026 (gardens and outdoor exhibits only, 300 yen, 8 Sep-4 Oct); gardens-only again 1-20 Dec 2026 and 24 Mar-18 Apr 2027. Closed 28 Dec 2026-1 Jan 2027.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.

Where is Kyoto National Museum?

Kyoto National Museum is located at 527 Chaya-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0931, Japan, in the Higashiyama area of Kyoto. The nearest stations are Shichijo Station (Keihan Line), 7 min walk, Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae bus stop (City Bus 206/208 from Kyoto Station) and Kyoto Station (JR, Subway).

What can I see at Kyoto National Museum?

Japan's great treasury of pre-modern Japanese and Asian art, behind a red-brick Meiji palace across from Sanjusangendo Current highlights include Outdoor Exhibits and Museum Gardens, Early Inhabitants of Wazuka Valley: Discovering Who Was Buried in the Harayama Tumulus and Collection Exhibitions, Heisei Chishinkan Wing.

Do I need to book Kyoto National Museum 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 National Museum?

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.