Kyoto Activities - Kamogawa, Tea Ceremony, Workshops and Museums
Kyoto is a compact, diverse city with something unique to offer everyone, whether it is nature, culture, specialty foods or shopping. It is why most travelers don't visit just once, but keep coming back to dive deeper, bringing with them families and friends. For those who have seen their favorite temples and done immersing in Shijo shopping, what is the next level of exploration? What activities are there for the children, the more athletic and the less active?
Encountering frequent inquiries from our guests, many traveling with parents and/or children, we feel that an at-a-glance summary of activities in Kyoto can be a handy companion similar to our neighborhood maps.
Kamogawa Walking or Cycling
Stroll and watch the birds play, have a picnic, or cycle north to Kamogawa Delta where Kamogawa on the left side (west) is joined by Takano River on the right (east). Play stone-hopping on the river, or go up a little further along Kamogawa to reach Kyoto Botanical Gardens.
Museum + Temple
Kyoto has many museums and temples that are located in clusters that are convenient for exploring on foot. This saves transport time and can be planned as a half-day activity before lunch or dinner.
Kyoto National Museum and adjacent temples
Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館) is about 15 minutes walk from Genji Kyoto. It has a permanent collection of Japanese, Chinese and Buddhist paintings, textiles, ceramics, sculptures and lacquerware, and very interesting architecture, gardens and 2 traditional tea houses. It is within a cluster of important temples and a shrine, a tour of which will give a digest of Japanese culture within manageable time and distance.
https://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/
Sanjūsan-gendo (三十三間堂) is known for its 1,001 Kannon statues and 33 segments of temple hall. The very long and impressive wooden structure has been standing for over 760 years.
https://kyoto.travel/en/shrine_temple/159.html
Chishaku-in Temple (智積院) is a major Buddhist temple that is less well-known to visitors (and so less crowded). It is over 400 years old, with Japanese rock and pond gardens, seasonal flowers, and many screen paintings that are worth seeing.
Toyokuni Jinja (豊国神社) is a shrine for commemorating the historical figure Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and was closed by the Tokugawa Shogunate that conquered the Toyotomi clan. But it was rebuilt by the Meiji government in 1880. What is noteworthy about this shrine is its 4-pillared Karamon Gate with a Chinese-style Karahafu gable, designated as a National Treasure. It was originally a gate of Fushimi Castle before the castle was destroyed.
https://en.japantravel.com/kyoto/hideyoshi-s-toyokuni-shrine-kyoto/12896
Kyocera Museum with adjacent Shrine, Park and Zoo
Okazaki Park (岡崎公園) is a large open area connecting Heian Jingu shrine, the Kyocera Museum, the National Museum of Modern Art, and the Kyoto City Zoo alongside Okazaki Canal. You will not miss it for the gigantic vermillion Torii gate overlooking everything. It is spacious and pleasant for strolling, picnics, and flower viewing in cherry blossom season.
Kyocera Museum (京都市京セラ美術館), also known as Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art, is the oldest existing museum in Japan, with minimalist touches added to its Imperial Crown Style architecture after renovation in 2020.
https://kyotocity-kyocera.museum/en/
Heian Jingu (平安神宮) shrine was built in 1895 as a replica of the imperial part of Kyoto, to commemorate the city having served as Japan’s capital for 1,100 years.
National Museum of Modern Art (MOMAK) (国立近代美術館) has modern and contemporary art from both Japan and abroad, with diverse collections of paintings, woodblocks prints, ceramics, sculptures and photos. Of note are works by Kyoto artist Kanjiro Kawai and woodblock artist Kiyoshi Hasegawa.
https://www.momak.go.jp/English/
The Kyoto City Zoo is pleasant, well-kept and family-friendly. It has a petting zoo, a small amusement park with rides, restaurant and snack bars, and quite a few cherry trees.
https://www5.city.kyoto.jp/zoo/lang/en/
Samurai Ninja Museum Kyoto - family friendly history experience
This is a guided tour of Japanese history told through Samurai and Ninja stories, with activities that include trying out armor and swords and learning the ways of the Ninja.
Nintendo Museum - interactive exhibit of games and history
All the Nintendo toys, cards, characters, consoles and handhelds are here. You can relive the games you ever played, or play some of them now on gigantic controllers! The N64, the Famicom and the Big Wii Remotes are stealing the show. When you get tired, you can have a burger at the museum cafe with Link and Zelda displayed on stained glass. Just remember tickets can only be reserved by lottery several months in advance, so be sure to secure them before you confirm your flights!
https://museum.nintendo.com/en/index.html
Tea Ceremony Experience
For those who want to experience the way of tea - the art of greeting, preparing and drinking Matcha - Kyoto is the place to do it. As the cradle of the tea ceremony known as Chado or Sado, Kyoto has highly qualified tea masters who can serve as hosts or teachers, the right settings (room decor is part of the tea ceremony), artisanal tools passed down from centuries of refinement, and authentic Wagashi sweets that need to be freshly made and served.
Camellia Tea Ceremony
They have 2 venues for shared or private experience: one near Ninenzaka (close to Kiomizudera Temple) with kimono rental on site, and one by Ryōanji Temple.
Tea Ceremony Koto
In a house near Kinkakuji Temple for shared or private experience, with option to add kimono-wearing and and Ikebana flower arrangement.
https://teaceremony-kyoto.com/
Maikoya Kyoto
Their 2 venues, one near Nishiki Market and one in Gion, are both traditional houses designated as tangible cultural properties. Shared or private experiences on offer include tea ceremony with kimono-wearing, option to add Wagashi sweets making, tea ceremony for families (with children aged 7-12), and Maiko (apprentice Geisha) hosted tea ceremony with dance performance.
https://mai-ko.com/culture/tea-ceremony/
Fukujūen Kyoto flagship store
Fukujūen is a renowned Japanese tea company rather than an experience provider. In their 5-storey building they have a shop that sells tea and utensils, a cafe and a Japanese-French fusion restaurant. They also offer tea workshop (about tea leaves, characteristics and brewing) and tea ceremony experience in a chashitsu (teahouse) setting.
https://www.fukujuen-kyotohonten.com/en/kyo-no-chaan/
Bikouen
This tea shop founded in 1872 has been the purveyor of Uji Matcha to the Honganji temples. Located next to Nishi-Honganji, it is run by the 5th generation proprietor Kentaro Hashimoto, who specializes in the Samurai style tea ceremony of the Yabunouchi School which places more emphasis on Zen simplicity. His wife Angela, who is fluent in Japanese, English, Mandarin and Cantonese, translates for him. They offer Samurai style tea ceremony, thick and thin tea formal ceremony, a 10-minute Matcha making session, and a 2-hour full length tea ceremony that includes Shōjin temple style vegetarian lunch.
Cooking Classes
From making sushi to Kyoto Obanzai home dishes to ramen or soba, there are many workshops that are visitor friendly with instructions in English as well as Japanese.
Atelier Sushi
This shop is 10 minutes walk from Genji Kyoto, in the Gojō area across Kamo River. They offer group and private sushi workshops.
https://www.atelierthe99sushi.com/
Uemori Sushi School
This school in Fushimi offers group and private classes for making sushi and/or tempura. Their main school is in Nara, so please be careful not to book the wrong location.
https://sushischool.umemori.co.jp/
WAK Japan
This company organizes Japanese cultural experiences including cooking classes, tea ceremony, kimono wearing, flower arrangement and visits to local homes. All their instructors and staff are women. Here is an example of their 3-hour course on Kyoto Obanzai home cooking, taught at the instructor’s own home.
https://wakjapan.com/course/home-cooking-obanzai-at-a-local-home/
Ramen Factory
Here is one place in Kyoto where you can make your own ramen - from forming the noodles to cooking the chicken (to make char siu slices), to adding your own toppings - in a 90-minute class. Location is near Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan train line.
https://shinmiyazawam.wixsite.com/ramen-factory-kyoto
Geisha (Geiko) Experience
Gion Maikoya
This is the same company (Maikoya Kyoto) that offers tea ceremony experience including Maiko hosted tea experience. Here you can also book a private meeting with a Geisha (in Kyoto Geisha are called Geiko, and their apprentices are called Maiko), a Maiko dinner show, walking tour or full Geiko makeover experience.
Gion Kagai Art Museum
This is a museum adjacent to the Gion Corner theatre where Geisha dances are performed. Kagai refers to the art of the Geisha in the entertainment industry. If you are interested in the culture and spirit of this tradition, this museum has rare displays of what Geisha wear and use, details of their environment and decorations, and 15-minute dance performances that can be booked.
Small Museums
A museum can be appreciated not only for the treasures that it exhibits, but also for its architectural or design merits, its cultural focus, sometimes even its place in history. It is good to make a mental note of where each one is located, so that it can be included as a side trip if not a dedicated visit, especially on days when it’s particularly rainy, hot, or crowded!
Gion Kagai Art Museum (see above)
Kawai Kanjiro’s House
This part Machiya townhouse, part rustic country home was designed by Kawai Kanjiro (1890-1966), a unique artist who influenced generations of potters and craftsmen.
Left exactly as it was when Kanjiro lived in it with his children and grandchildren, this memorial museum features his ceramics, sculpture, wood carvings, calligraphy and furniture, as well as his collection of crafts made by unknown country people from Japan and abroad. Even the kiln that fired his works, and which Kanjiro also shared with the neighborhood community, has been well preserved.
https://www.kyoto-museums.jp/en/museum/east/3875/
For more information on this artist and his house, see our blog:
https://genjikyoto.com/en/blog/kyoto-discovery-kawai-kanjiros-house
Hosomi Museum
This small museum of the Hosomi family is on the west side of Okazaki Park and can be visited together with Kyocera Museum. It has a permanent collection of religious art (Buddhist and Shinto) of the Heian and Kamakura periods, decorative Arts (tea bowls, lacquerware, utensils), Rimpa art, and 16th-19th century Japanese art including ink paintings and woodblock prints. They have a cafe as well as a Japanese tea room that serves Matcha and sweets.
http://www.emuseum.or.jp/eng/access_eng/index.html
Kahitsukan - Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art
This museum in the heart of Gion has a permanent collection of works by 3 important Japanese artists - the innovative Nihonga painter Kagaku Murakami, poetic oil painter Kaoru Yamaguchi, and versatile ceramic artist Rosanjin Kitaoji. Its special exhibitions include a wide range of modern and contemporary art from Japan and abroad. It has a contemporary design in its architecture which incorporates Japanese features, with a “Sun room” and Tea Ceremony room on the top floor that makes for an oasis of serenity in the bustling area.
http://www.kahitsukan.or.jp/frame_e.html
Museum of Kyoto
This museum a few blocks north of Nishiki Market has a main building and an annex with an English-style red brick facade that used to be the Kyoto branch of the Bank of Japan. The general exhibitions here are on Kyoto’s history and traditional culture, but there is very little English translation or material. It will be better to check for any special exhibitions that may be of interest. On the 1/F of the main building are cafes, restaurants and shops including a Washi paper shop and a sake brewery showroom.
Namikawa Cloisonné Museum
A short walk from Higashiyama subway station, this museum was the home studio of Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927), whose cloisonné art of ornamenting metal with colorful enamel won him wide acclaim. Apart from the exquisite ware on display, the Meiji Period Machiya villa is itself a work of art. It has Shoji screens made of glass rather than Washi paper (rare at the time), better to view the garden created by Ogawa Jihei, one of Heian Jingu shrine’s garden designers.
Fukuda Art Museum
This museum in Arashiyama is in close proximity to Togetsu Bridge (with its entrance right behind the Arabica cafe). It has a large collection of Japanese paintings from the Edo Period to early 20th century, with an emphasis on the Kyoto circle of painters. Special exhibitions showcase Japanese art from different periods. English audio guide and text are available. The museum has a beautiful cafe (only open to museum visitors) with fine views of a water garden and the Togetsu Bridge going across the river.
Saga-Arashiyama Museum of Arts and Culture
This museum a block away from Fukuda Art Museum and set tickets are available in both museums. This museum specializes in the presentation of Hyakunin Isshu, or 100 Waka poems by 100 poets, made into an anthology by Fujimori Teika who lived in the Kamakura Period. The Waka were widely popularised by ukiyo-e woodblock prints at the time, and in recent years they also found manifestations in game cards and figurines. The exhibition here features their many artistic forms and the narrative is accompanied by translations into English. The museum also hosts seasonal exhibitions of Japanese art of the Edo and Meiji period. The museum cafe, Arashiyama Omokage Terrace, faces a Zen rock garden and is open to non-museum visitors as well.
