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The Museum of Kyoto

ArchitectureArtHistoryOpen until 7:30pmFrom £600Karasuma Oike (Kyoto Subway, 3 min walk)

The Museum of Kyoto ("Bunpaku") is a prefectural museum of Kyoto's history and culture, opened in 1988 at the corner of Sanjo and Takakura streets. Its second-floor galleries trace the city from the founding of Heian-kyo to the modern era and show rotating displays of paintings and crafts from the Kyoto Prefecture collection, while the third and fourth floors host large special exhibitions and a film theatre screening classics from the prefectural film archive. Next door, the Annex occupies the former Bank of Japan Kyoto Branch (1906, Tatsuno Kingo), an Important Cultural Property, and the ground-floor Roji Tempo recreates a lane of traditional Kyoto shopfronts.

What's On

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

623-1 Higashikata-machi, Takakura-dori Sanjo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8183, Japan

Nearest station: Karasuma Oike (Kyoto Subway, 3 min walk), Karasuma (Hankyu Line, 7 min walk), Sanjo (Keihan Line, 15 min walk)

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Hours

Open on national holiday 21 September, 10:00–19:30

Closed 24 September

Closed (substitute closure)

Open on national holiday 12 October, 10:00–19:30

Closed 13 October

Closed (substitute closure)

MonClosed
Tue10:00–19:30
Wed10:00–19:30
Thu10:00–19:30
FriToday10:00–19:30
Sat10:00–19:30
Sun10:00–19:30

Admission

From £600

General exhibition: adults ¥600, university students ¥400, high school students and younger free; 20% group discount for 20+. Ticket includes the Film Theatre. Special exhibitions are priced separately (their ticket also covers the general exhibition and Film Theatre). Annex Hall free. Free for disability certificate holders plus one companion.

Nearby

Kyoto International Manga Museum

Art5 min walk
Kahitsukan – Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art

Kahitsukan – Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art

Art16 min walk

Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo)

Architecture17 min walk

Hosomi Museum

Design20 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does The Museum of Kyoto cost?
Standard adult admission to The Museum of Kyoto is £600. General exhibition: adults ¥600, university students ¥400, high school students and younger free; 20% group discount for 20+. Ticket includes the Film Theatre. Special exhibitions are priced separately (their ticket also covers the general exhibition and Film Theatre). Annex Hall free. Free for disability certificate holders plus one companion.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of The Museum of Kyoto?
The Museum of Kyoto is open Tue-Sun 10:00-19:30 (general exhibition; last entry 19:00). Special exhibition galleries 10:00-18:00, Fridays until 19:30. Closed Mondays (open when Monday is a national holiday, closing the following weekday instead): open Mon 21 Sep, 12 Oct and 23 Nov 2026; closed Thu 24 Sep, Tue 13 Oct and Tue 24 Nov 2026.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is The Museum of Kyoto?
The Museum of Kyoto is located at 623-1 Higashikata-machi, Takakura-dori Sanjo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8183, Japan, in the Sanjo area of Kyoto. The nearest stations are Karasuma Oike (Kyoto Subway, 3 min walk), Karasuma (Hankyu Line, 7 min walk), Sanjo (Keihan Line, 15 min walk).
What can I see at The Museum of Kyoto?
Kyoto's 1,200-year story, Kyoto Prefecture's art and film collections, and a red-brick former Bank of Japan branch on Sanjo. Current highlights include Kan'ei: Beauty Nurtured by Peace, MARUYAMA Okyo and His Followers, Indestructible Power: Go Nagai – Go Nagai Memorial Museum Revival.
Do I need to book The Museum of Kyoto 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 Museum of Kyoto?
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.

Tokumeigakarinoaoshima / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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