An Art Lover’s Guide to Kyoto

Begin exploring Kyoto’s art heritage at the Kyoto National Museum, home to an extensive collection of largely pre-modern Japanese artworks, including paintings, ceramics, and textiles. One of Japan’s most renowned cultural institutions, the museum is divided into two main buildings. Rotating exhibitions drawn from the permanent collection are typically held in a sleek modern structure by architect Taniguchi Yoshio (best known for his redesign of New York City’s Museum of Modern Art), while temporary exhibitions are held in a grand redbrick building designed by Katayama Tōkuma in 1895.

After exploring the Kyoto National Museum’s collection of pre-modern art, step into the 20th century at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (MoMAK). The museum’s collection largely represents artists or artistic movements in Kyoto and the Kansai area (the western region of Japan), particularly emphasizing nihonga (Japanese-style painting) and crafts. In addition to hosting a handful of temporary exhibitions yearly, MoMAK frequently rotates the works on display in the Collection Gallery, making it worth repeat visits.

Located in Okazaki-koen Park, on the east side of Heian-jingu Shrine, the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art has been open for nearly a century and recently underwent extensive renovations that have preserved its traditional look while adding updated touches, as well as a new wing devoted to contemporary art and an attractive rooftop terrace. As well as a 4,000-piece-strong permanent collection of works by Kyoto artists, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions, usually dedicated to Japanese artists or art movements.

Housed in a former elementary school built in 1869, the Kyoto Art Center hosts many events, from art exhibitions and ikebana (flower arranging) workshops to performances spanning traditional performing arts, music, and theater. The Kyoto Art Center is also home to a cafe and an extensive library, both open to all visitors. It is also noted for its residency program, which supports emerging artists and researchers.

Kyoto is indelibly linked to the traditional and elegant kimono, and travelers can dive deeper into Japan’s national dress in the Nishijin weaving district. At the Nishijin Textile Center, you can view displays of kimonos, watch weaving demonstrations and short kimono fashion shows, and even try your hand at weaving. The Nishijin Textile Center is often filled with large tour groups, so you may prefer the intimate Orinasu-kan nearby. There, you can view traditional textiles, including Noh costumes, and watch craftspeople at work inside a traditional machiya townhouse. If you’d like to try on a kimono yourself, book a tea ceremony and kimono experience while in the area.

Just a short stroll from Nijo-jo Castle, the Kyoto Shibori Museum is another must-visit for lovers of traditional Japanese textile arts. Thought to be the oldest dyeing craft in Japan, shibori is a tie-dyeing technique long used on kimonos but today more often seen on smaller garments such as scarves. You can try your hand at the technique by booking a shibori scarf-making class and, as your fabric is drying, explore the museum’s special exhibitions, which present shibori masterworks.

Held yearly for over four weeks in spring, the photography festival Kyotographie exhibits photographs by internationally renowned artists outside the traditional gallery format. Exhibitions occur in striking locations throughout the city, from historic temples to private homes and modern buildings. Seeking out each exhibition can be a fun way to explore the city and enter buildings you might otherwise have overlooked. Each festival edition is loosely based on a theme and features photographers of diverse styles and backgrounds. Visitors can also check out live music at its sister festival, Kyotophonie.

A fixture on the Kyoto contemporary art scene since 1990 and located close to the city center, Imura Art Gallery showcases the work of some of the most exciting established and up-and-coming artists based in the Kansai region, with an emphasis on those with a connection to Kyoto. The gallery hosts rotating exhibitions, representing artworks in diverse media forms, from prints and paintings to sculptures, ceramics, and photography.

Just minutes from the gift shops and tourist crowds of Hanami-dori, the far less trafficked streets of Shinmonzen-dori and Furumonzen-dori are filled with generations-old boutiques selling arts, crafts, and antiques. Among them is the contemporary art Sokyo Gallery, which exhibits contemporary artists who work with traditional crafts, including ceramics and lacquerware, as well as figurative sculptures, with the aim of elevating craft to the realm of fine art. The gallery holds around six exhibitions per year, typically focused on Japanese identity and the use of local materials.