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 – the National Museum of Modern Art and Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art – as well as two smaller museums. If you find yourself in Kyoto on a rainy day, there's enough indoor sightseeing here to keep you occupied.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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1. Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art

0.07 MILES

This fine museum holds several major exhibitions a year, as well as a variety of free shows. It’s always worth stopping by to see if something is on while…

2. Heian-jingū

0.13 MILES

One of Kyoto’s more popular sights, this shrine was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the founding of the city. The shrine buildings…

3. National Museum of Modern Art

0.14 MILES

This museum is renowned for its Japanese ceramics and paintings. There is an outstanding permanent collection, which includes many pottery pieces by Kawai…

5. Murin-an

0.26 MILES

Often overlooked by the hordes that descend on the Higashiyama area, this elegant villa was the home of prominent statesman Yamagata Aritomo (1838–1922)…

6. Okazaki-jinja

0.38 MILES

Okazaki-jinja is a quaint local shrine located at the far eastern end of Marutamachi-dōri. The rabbit is the spirit animal here and people come to this…

7. Shōren-in

0.44 MILES

This temple is hard to miss, with its giant camphor trees growing just outside the walls. Fortunately, most tourists march right on past, heading to the…

8. Kurodani Temple

0.46 MILES

Also known as Konkai Kōmyō-ji, this temple in the Northern Higashiyama district is a favourite of locals for morning and evening strolls. It's got some…