Back to museums

The Kyoto University Museum

HistoryNatural HistoryScienceOpen until 4:30pmFrom £400Hyakumanben (Kyoto City Bus), 2 min walk

One of Japan's largest university museums, opened in 2001 on Kyoto University's Yoshida campus. Its permanent galleries cover natural history (minerals, fossils such as Naumann's elephant, a walk-through Bornean rainforest), cultural history (archaeology, historical documents and Edo-period Kyoto maps) and the history of technology (teaching instruments and mechanical models). Rotating special exhibitions draw on the university's research, from medieval diaries to chemistry and primatology.

What's On

Now
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan

Nearest station: Hyakumanben (Kyoto City Bus), 2 min walk, Demachiyanagi (Keihan Line / Eizan Railway), 15 min walk

Show on map

Hours

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed09:30–16:30
Thu09:30–16:30
FriToday09:30–16:30
Sat09:30–16:30
Sun09:30–16:30

Admission

From £400

University students ¥300; groups of 20+ ¥300 / ¥200. Free for under-18s, over-70s, school students, students at Kyoto Prefecture universities, and visitors with disabilities plus one companion. Cash only.

Nearby

Visitor Information

How much does The Kyoto University Museum cost?
Standard adult admission to The Kyoto University Museum is £400. University students ¥300; groups of 20+ ¥300 / ¥200. Free for under-18s, over-70s, school students, students at Kyoto Prefecture universities, and visitors with disabilities plus one companion. Cash only.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of The Kyoto University Museum?
The Kyoto University Museum is open Wed–Sun 9:30–16:30 (last entry 16:00). Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, including national holidays. Also closed 28 Dec–4 Jan, 18 June (university foundation day) and the Wednesday of the third week of August.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is The Kyoto University Museum?
The Kyoto University Museum is located at Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan, in the Yoshida area of Kyoto. The nearest stations are Hyakumanben (Kyoto City Bus), 2 min walk, Demachiyanagi (Keihan Line / Eizan Railway), 15 min walk.
What can I see at The Kyoto University Museum?
Fossils, minerals, samurai letters and old lab machines from 2.6 million objects gathered by Kyoto University since 1897. Current highlights include Kennaiki: The World Revealed by an Autograph Diary, Chemistry in Kyoto: A History of the Institute for Chemical Research, Wild Eyes, Wild Heart: Junichiro Itani, Explorer of Nature.
Do I need to book The Kyoto University 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 The Kyoto University 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.

J o / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)