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Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art
The Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art organises several major exhibitions a year. Adult admission varies by exhibit but children get in for free.
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Kyoto National Museum
The Kyoto National Museum is the site for some of Kyoto's most important special art exhibitions. It was founded in 1895 as an imperial repository for art and treasures from local temples and shrines. It is housed in two buildings opposite Sanjūsangen-dō temple. There are 17 rooms with displays of more than 1000 artworks, historical artefacts and handicrafts.
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Kyoto Station
The Kyoto Station building is a striking steel-and-glass structure - a kind of futuristic cathedral for the transport age. Unveiled in September 1997, the building met with some decidedly mixed reviews. Some critics assail the building as not keeping with the traditional architecture of Kyoto; others love its wide-open spaces and dramatic lines.
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Kyoto Tower
If you want to orient yourself as soon as you arrive in town, this is the place to do so. Located right outside the Karasuma (north) gate of the station, this retro tower looks like a rocket perched atop the Kyoto Tower Hotel. The tower provides excellent views in all directions and you can really get a sense for the Kyoto ' bon-chi '. There are free mounted binoculars to use, and these allow ripping views over to Kiyomizu-dera and as far south as Osaka.
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Mampuku-Ji Off
For something totally different while in the Uji area, you might consider a side trip to the unusual Mampuku-ji, a seldom visited temple a little bit north of the centre of Uji.
Mampuku-ji was established as a Zen temple in 1661 by the Chinese priest Ingen. It is a rare example in Japan of a Zen temple built in the pure Chinese style of the Ming dynasty. The temple follows the Ōbaku school, which is linked to the mainstream Rinzai school but incorporates a wide range of esoteric Buddhist practices.
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Manshu-In
Manshu-in was a popular retreat of former emperors and a great escape from the crowds. The temple was originally founded by Saichō on Hiei-zan, but was relocated here at the beginning of the Edo period by Ryōshōhō, the son of Prince Hachijōnomiya Tomohito (who built Katsura Rikyū).
The graceful temple architecture is often compared with Katsura Rikyū for its detailed woodwork and rare works of art, such as fusuma-e sliding doors painted by Kanō Eitoku, a famed artist of the Momoyama period.
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Maruyama-Kōen
This park is a favourite of locals and visitors alike. It's a place to escape the bustle of the city centre and amble around gardens, ponds, souvenir shops and restaurants. Peaceful paths meander through the trees and carp glide through the waters of a small pond in the park's centre.
For two weeks in early April, when the park's cherry trees come into bloom, the calm atmosphere is shattered by hordes of drunken revellers having hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) parties under the trees.
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Mibu-Dera
Mibu-dera was founded in 991 and belongs to the Risshū school. In the late Edo period, it became a training centre for samurai. Mibu-dera houses tombs of pro-shōgunate Shinsen-gumi members, who fought bloody street battles resisting the forces that succeeded in restoring the emperor in 1868. Except for an unusual stupa covered in Jizō statues, visually the temple is of limited interest.
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Museum of Kyoto
Housed in and behind the former Bank of Japan, a classic brick Meiji-period building, this museum is worth a visit for those with an interest in Kyoto's long history. The regular exhibits consist of models of ancient Kyoto, audiovisual presentations and a small gallery dedicated to the city's film industry.
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Nanzen-In
This subtemple of Nanzen-ji is up the steps after you pass under the aqueduct. It has an attractive garden designed around a heart-shaped pond. This garden is best seen in the morning or around noon, when sunlight shines directly into the pond and illuminates the colourful carp.
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Nanzen-Ji
This temple is one of the most pleasant in Kyoto, with its expansive grounds (that can be entered for free) and numerous subtemples, including Nanzen-in, Tenju-an and Konchi-in.
Nanzen-ji began as a retirement villa for Emperor Kameyama but was dedicated as a Zen temple on his death in 1291. Civil war in the 15th century destroyed most of the temple; the present buildings date from the 17th century. It operates now as the headquarters of the Rinzai school.
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Nanzen-ji Temple
The Nanzen-ji Temple is one of Kyoto's most pleasant temples, with expansive grounds and numerous sub-temples. It began as a retirement villa for Emperor Kameyama but was dedicated as a Zen temple on his death in 1291. Civil war in the 15th century destroyed most of it; the present buildings date from the 17th century.
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National Museum of Modern Art
The National Museum of Modern Art is renowned for its Japanese ceramics and paintings. There is an excellent permanent collection, including many pottery pieces by Kawai Kanjirō. The coffee shop here overlooks a picturesque canal.
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Nijō Jinya
Nijō Jinya is an interesting attraction, although it's not really geared to foreign visitors. This former merchant's home was built in the mid-1600s and served as an inn for provincial feudal lords visiting the capital. What appears to be an average Edo-period mansion, however, is no ordinary dwelling.
The house contains fire-resistant earthen walls and a warren of 24 rooms, and was ingeniously designed to protect the daimyō against possible surprise attacks.
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Nijō-Jō
For those with an interest in Japan's feudal past and an eye for magnificent interiors, Nijō-jō is a fascinating destination. Keep in mind, though, that the castle is on the itinerary of every foreign and Japanese tour group and it can be packed. If you're after peace and quiet, try an early-morning or late-afternoon visit.
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Ninen-Zaka & Sannen-Zaka
This is one of Kyoto's most lovely restored neighbourhoods. The name refers to the two main streets of the area: Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka, literally 'Two-Year Hill' and 'Three-Year Hill'. These two charming streets are lined with old wooden houses, traditional shops and restaurants. If you fancy a break, there are many teahouses and cafés along these lanes. Located just downhill from and slightly to the north of Kiyomizu-dera,
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Nishi Hongan-Ji
This temple makes for a nice change from the incessant crowds of Higashi Hongan-ji. As with its counterpart, Nishi Hongan-ji is an easy walk from the station and it's free. The interior of the main hall here is both gaudy and sublime.
Nishi Hongan-ji was originally built in 1272 in the Higashiyama Mountains by the priestess Kakushin, daughter of Shinran, who was founder of the Buddhist Jōdo Shin-shū school.
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Nishijin
Nishijin is Kyoto's traditional textile centre, the source of all those dazzling kimono fabrics and obi (kimono sashes) that you see being paraded about town. The area is famous for Nishijin-ori(Nishijin weaving). There are quite a few machiya in this district, so it's a good place simply to wander.
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Nishijin Textile Center
In the heart of the Nishijin textile district, this centre is a good place to observe the weaving of fabrics used in kimono and their ornamental obi. There are also displays of completed fabrics and kimono. The centre holds occasional kimono fashion shows and has a decent shop upstairs where you can buy goods made of Nishijin-ori.
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Nison-In
This is a popular spot with maple-watchers. Nison-in was originally built in the 9th century by Emperor Saga. It houses two important Kamakura-era Buddha statues side by side (Shaka on the right and Amida on the left). The temple features lacquered nightingale floors.
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Nomura Museum
This museum's exhibits include scrolls, paintings, implements used in tea ceremonies and ceramics that were bequeathed by business magnate Nomura Tokushiki. If you have an abiding interest in the tea ceremony or in Japanese decorative techniques such as lacquer and maki-e (decorative lacquer technique using silver and gold powders), this museum makes an interesting break from temple hopping. Located a 10-minute walk north of Nanzen-ji.
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Obai-In
If you are lucky enough to be in Kyoto during autumn when this subtemple of Daitoku-ji is opened to the public, then you should make an effort to visit. The subtemple is a world of interlinked gardens, including an incredibly rich moss garden and a starkly simply karesansui . Along with nearby Kōtō-in, we rank this as one of the finest gardens in Kyoto. When you enter the Daitoku-ji complex via the east (main) gate, it's on the left.
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Okazaki-Kōen
Okazaki-kōen is an expanse of parks and canals that lies between Niōmon-dōri and Heian-jingū. Two of Kyoto's significant museums can be found here (National Museum of Modern Art and the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art), as well as two smaller museums (Fureai-kan Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts and the Kyoto International Exhibition Hall), and the Kyoto City Zoo. If you find yourself in Kyoto on a rainy day and need to do some indoor sightseeing, this area has enough to keep you sheltered for most of the day.
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Ōkōchi-Sansō Villa
This is the lavish estate of Ōkōchi Denjirō, an actor famous for his samurai films. The sprawling stroll gardens may well be the most lovely in all of Kyoto, particularly when you consider the brilliant views eastwards across the city. The house and teahouse are also sublime. Be sure to follow all the trails around the gardens (the standard route is clearly marked). Hold onto the tea ticket they give you when you enter - you'll need it to claim the tea and cake that comes with entry.
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Orinasu-Kan
This museum is housed in a Nishijin weaving factory. It has impressive exhibits of Nishijin textiles. The Susamei-sha building (recently restored) next door is also open to the public and contains a small café. Across the street, there is another hall with a good collection of Nishijin kimono (entry to this hall is included in the main admission fee). With advance reservations, traditional weaving workshops can be attended.
