Located in Japan's ancient capital, Kyoto National Museum stands as one of Japan's oldest and most famous museum. It is included in one out of the four top national museums in Japan, alongside Tokyo National Museum, Nara National Museum and the Kyushu National Museum.
The museum mainly collects and preserves work of arts and artifacts from Japan as well as other Asian countries. The primary collection of the museum is the millennium when Kyoto was the capital of Japan, from 794 to 1868.
Known today as the Meiji Kotokan, it is the original building of the museum. It is made out of red bricks, a good example of Meiji architecture. It was designated as an umportant Cultural Property by the Japanese government in 1969.
The museum has permanent and special exhibition. The permanent collection is consist of variety of art works such as sculptures, ceramics, paintings, archaeological relics that was located in the big gallery of the Heisei Chishinkan. While the special exhibition, usually held at the museum's original building. The information of the special exhibition can be found on its official website. (http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/)
From Shichijo Station on the Keihan Line, the museum can be reached by a 5 minute walk.
From Kyoto station, the museum can be reached by 20 to 25 minute walk.
The museum opens at 9:30 to 17:00 for the permanent exhibition and typically 9:30 to 18:00 for the special exhibition.
It is closed during Mondays (Tuesday if Monday falls on a national holiday) and New Year Holidays.
Admission fee for the permanent exhibition is 520 Yen and typically 1500 Yen for the special exhibition.