Ryukoku Museum

What's On

Now

Oct

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Come One, Come All! Higashi-Mikawa's Fumonji Temple

Ahead of its 1,300th anniversary, Fumonji, a mountain temple in Toyohashi, Aichi, lends powerful Heian-period Buddhist sculptures, sutra-mound finds and historical documents.

Now showing19 Sept – 23 Nov¥1,200

Buddhist Thought and Culture: From India to Japan, featuring Gods and Buddhas of India from the Hatanaka Kōkyō Collection

The museum's series exhibition on Buddhism's path from India to Japan, with a feature of Indian miniature paintings of gods and buddhas from painter Hatanaka Kōkyō's collection, shown in Kyoto for the first time.

Upcoming9 Jan 2027 – 21 Feb 2027¥550

Buddhas and Gods of the Hot-Spring Towns: The Art of Onsen and Yakushi Worship

Spring special exhibition (provisional title) of over 100 Buddhist statues, paintings, kami images, temple-origin scrolls and offerings from onsen temples and shrines around the Kinki region.

Upcoming24 Apr 2027 – 20 Jun 2027¥1,200

Permanent Collections

Bezeklik Cave Temples Restoration Exhibit

A full-size digital recreation of the 11th-century corridor of Bezeklik Cave 15 near Turpan: nine 3m-high Uyghur Buddhist murals, dispersed by early 20th-century expeditions, reunited.

Permanent collection

Nearby

i

Museum "EKi" KYOTO

Design8 min walk

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Kyoto Railway Museum

Transport13 min walk

teamLab Biovortex Kyoto

teamLab Biovortex Kyoto

Children16 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Ryukoku Museum cost?

Standard adult admission to Ryukoku Museum is ¥1,200. Price set per exhibition. Autumn 2026 exhibition: adults ¥1,200 (advance/groups ¥1,000), high school & university ¥600, elementary & junior high ¥300, under school age free. Series exhibitions: adults ¥550, seniors 65+ ¥450, university ¥400, high school ¥300, junior high and under free. Visitors with a disability certificate plus one carer free.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.

What are the opening hours of Ryukoku Museum?

Ryukoku Museum is open Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Closed Mondays (open on national holidays, closed the following weekday). Open only during exhibitions: closed until 18 Sep 2026, also 24 Sep and 13 Oct 2026, 24 Nov 2026–8 Jan 2027, and 22 Feb–31 Mar 2027.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.

Where is Ryukoku Museum?

Ryukoku Museum is located at 117 Nishinakasuji-dori Shomen Sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8399, Japan, in the Nishi Honganji / Horikawa area of Kyoto. The nearest stations are Kyoto Station (JR, Kintetsu, Karasuma Line) – approx. 12 min walk and Nishi Honganji-mae bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 9, 28, 75) – approx. 2 min walk.

What can I see at Ryukoku Museum?

Buddhist art from India to Japan, with a life-size recreation of Silk Road cave murals, opposite Nishi Honganji Current highlights include Buddhas and Gods of the Hot-Spring Towns: The Art of Onsen and Yakushi Worship, Buddhist Thought and Culture: From India to Japan, featuring Gods and Buddhas of India from the Hatanaka Kōkyō Collection and Bezeklik Cave Temples Restoration Exhibit.

Do I need to book Ryukoku 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 Ryukoku 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.