Kyoto city KYOCERA Museum of Art | Review by Norton Liang

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Kyoto city KYOCERA Museum of Art

Art, Retro architecture, Japanese garden and more. Intriguing art museum.

20 Oct 2026 See More

Recently, the Kyoto City Museum of Art, located next to the large red torii gate of Heian Jingu Shrine and also one of Japan’s oldest public art museum buildings, announced that after three years of renovation, it would reopen to the public in spring 2020 with a new identity as the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art (京都市京セラ美術館), becoming a new pilgrimage spot for visitors to Kyoto!

The Kyoto City Museum of Art has a long history. It was completed in 1933 in Okazaki, one of Kyoto’s most important cultural districts, and its overall exterior was designed in the classic Imperial Crown Style of the time, blending Japanese and Western architectural elements. In 2017, the museum temporarily closed for renovations. The project was officially estimated to cost more than JPY 10 billion, so the government introduced a naming-rights system that allowed the largest corporate sponsor to acquire the naming rights. They were secured by Kyocera Corporation, a major company headquartered in Kyoto.

Located within Kyoto’s Okazaki Park, the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art ultimately selected a collaborative proposal by renowned Japanese architects Jun Aoki and Tezzo Nishizawa for its redesign. Jun Aoki remains a well-known architect internationally and is also a noted artist. After participating in the museum’s reconstruction project, he was appointed director of the Kyoto City Museum of Art.

The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art is located in the Okazaki area of Kyoto’s Sakyo Ward, while the large red torii gate in the background is a symbol of Heian Jingu Shrine. This area is a well-known center for arts, culture, recreation, and walking in Kyoto.
Walking route around the Okazaki museum area
* Where art, culture, and nature come together: Starting from the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, nearby attractions include Okazaki Park, Heian Jingu Shrine, and the Lake Biwa Canal. The route features broad walkways, greenery, and waterside scenery, making it ideal for a stroll.
* Nearby attractions: Within walking distance are Kyoto City Zoo, the Lake Biwa Canal Museum, and Nanzen-ji Temple, a famous spot for autumn foliage.
Recommended Blue Bottle Coffee location
The closest and most distinctive location near the museum is:
* Blue Bottle Coffee - Kyoto Cafe (Nanzenji location):
* About a 10- to 15-minute walk from the museum and Nanzen-ji Temple.
* Converted from a century-old traditional Kyoto machiya townhouse, it combines minimalist modern design with the look of a Japanese garden.
* An excellent place to rest and enjoy a cup of pour-over coffee after walking around Okazaki, visiting the shrine, or touring the museum.

Other Reviews by Norton Liang

Keage Incline

Lake Biwa Canal is a man-made waterway that connects Otsu and Kyoto. Although it was made in the Meiji Period, it is still being used and made up of the roughly 20 km-long 1st Canal, the 7.4km-long 2nd Canal, and 3.3km-long Canal Branch, etc.
- Gion, Higashiyama, Yamashina
- Tourist Attractions
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Kyoto’s **Keage** area is a historic and scenic district in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, known for its unique industrial heritage and beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.
Main attractions
Keage Incline: This is the area’s most famous attraction. This abandoned railway was built during the Meiji period to connect two sections of the Lake Biwa Canal with a significant difference in elevation, allowing boats to be transported between them. It is now a popular walking path, especially in spring when the Yoshino cherry trees lining both sides are in full bloom, creating a beautiful “cherry blossom tunnel.” It is also a great place to see the fall foliage.
Lake Biwa Canal Museum: Located near the end of the incline, the museum introduces the history and engineering of the Lake Biwa Canal.
Nanzenji Temple: This famous Zen temple is about a 10-minute walk from Keage Station and is known for its magnificent Sanmon Gate and the distinctive red-brick Suirokaku Aqueduct.
Philosopher’s Path: Beginning near Nanzenji Temple, this walking path follows the canal and is another famous spot for viewing cherry blossoms and fall foliage.
Heian Jingu Shrine: A little farther away, but still near the Okazaki Park area, it features striking vermilion buildings and a beautiful Japanese garden.
Transportation
The most convenient way to reach Keage is via the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line:
Get off at **Keage Station**, then walk about 3–5 minutes from the station to the entrance of the incline.
From Kyoto Station:
Take the subway Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike Station, then transfer to the Tozai Line toward Rokujizo and get off at Keage Station. The entire trip takes about 17 minutes.
Alternatively, take JR to Yamashina Station and transfer to the subway Tozai Line to Keage Station, which lets you avoid congestion in central Kyoto.
The Keage area combines historic sites, natural beauty, and cultural attractions, making it ideal for a leisurely stroll. Visiting during cherry blossom season or fall foliage season is especially recommended.
Nanzenji Temple

In the latter half of the 13th century, Emperor Kameyama, who had defeated the Mongols (Yuan) twice, became the Pope and made the temple the first imperial temple in Japan as a Zen temple. After the main temple complex was built by Norian Soen, it was succeeded by Issan Ichinei, a high priest who was dispatched to Japan as an envoy of the Gen.
- Okazaki, Ginkakuji, Ohara
- Shrines & Temples
21 Oct 2026 See More

Nanzenji Temple is one of Kyoto’s top spots for fall foliage and fresh green leaves. Every autumn, the brilliant red leaves and the rustic red-brick Suirokaku Aqueduct complement each other, creating a truly striking scene.
• Avoid the crowds: Weekends from noon through the afternoon are usually the busiest. If you want to experience the unique serenity and tranquility of a Zen temple, I strongly recommend coming early in the morning, right when it opens (around 8:40 a.m.).
Minamiza Theatre

A theater that features Kabuki which originated in Kyoto. Kabuki is said to have originated from the “Kabuki Odori” dance, invented by a woman named Izumo no Okuni. As the dance started to popularize during the early Edo period, around this time the Minami-za also opened. It is Japan’s oldest theater with more than 400 years of history located in the same place.
- Gion, Higashiyama, Yamashina
- Museums
20 Oct 2026 See More

Kyoto Minamiza is a kabuki theater located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, and is recognized as the oldest theater in Japan. It stands on the east side of Shijo Bridge, where Shijo Street meets the Kamo River, and is operated by Shochiku Co., Ltd. The current building, with four floors above ground and one basement level, was rebuilt in 1929 and designated a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 1996.
The main highlights and visitor information for Kyoto Minamiza are as follows:

History and Development

• Origins: The history of Minamiza dates back to the early Edo period, around 1610. At that time, Izumo no Okuni pioneered kabuki performances at Kyoto’s Shijo riverbank, and the Tokugawa shogunate issued an officially authorized business license for this site.
• Architectural style: The ornate exterior is designed in the style of the Momoyama period, while the interior combines traditional kabuki stage features, such as the hanamichi and revolving stage, with Western architectural structures. Extensive seismic reinforcement and facility renovations were completed in 2018.