- Nidec Kyoto Tower
- Kyoto Aquarium
- The Museum of Kyoto
- Kyoto International Manga Museum
- Nijo-jo Castle
- Kyoto Imperial Palace
- Seimei Shrine
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Nidec Kyoto Tower
Nidec Kyoto Tower is a symbol of Kyoto, rising high across the street from Kyoto Station. The tallest structure in Kyoto, the tower gives a beautiful view of the entire town in all directions. Various local stores are located from B1-B3. There is also a special counter for foreigners visiting Japan on the 3rd floor, where you can also buy tickets.
- Address:
- 721-1 Higashishiokoji-cho, Karasuma-dori Shichijo-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto (Next to JR Kyoto Station)
- Hours:
- Observation deck: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (last entry: 8:30 p.m.)
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Kyoto Aquarium
The Kyoto Aquarium is a large-scale indoor aquarium located in Umekoji Park, a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station. The aquarium has 10 exhibition areas, featuring species such as the Japanese giant salamander, which inhabits the Kamo River, seals, fur seals, penguins, dolphins, etc. Jellyfish Wonder opened in 2020, exhibiting 5,000 jellyfish of approximately 30 species, the largest number in western Japan. In addition to exhibitions, the museum offers workshops and other programs.
- Address:
- 35-1 Kankiji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
- Hours:
- 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
*Varies depending on the day. Please visit the website linked below for details.
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The Museum of Kyoto
The Museum of Kyoto is a multidisciplinary cultural facility that showcases the history and culture of Kyoto in an easy-to-understand format, with a variety of special exhibitions held on the fourth floor, as well as a general exhibition hall on the second and third floors that features selected masterpieces related to Kyoto, along with occasional special events. Highlights include the annex (former Bank of Japan, Kyoto Branch), a modern Western-style building designated as an Important Cultural Property, and the Ro-ji Tempo shopping center, which replicates the traditional streets of Kyoto with their rows of machiya (townhouses).
- Address:
- 623-1 Higashikata-machi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
- Hours:
- 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Special exhibition: 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (until 7:30 p.m. on Fridays)
*Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
- Closed:
- Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) and year ends and New Year holidays
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Kyoto International Manga Museum
A comprehensive manga cultural facility opened in 2006 as a joint project between Kyoto Seika University, which is home to the Faculty of Manga Studies, and the City of Kyoto, it offers free access to approximately 50,000 manga out of its collection of 300,000 titles. It also holds a variety of events such as exhibitions and manga-related workshops.
- Address:
- 452 Kinbuki-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
- Hours:
- 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (last entry: 5:00 p.m.)
- Closed:
- Tuesday, Wednesday, over the New Year period, and closure for maintenance
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Nijo-jo Castle
Built in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu to defend the Kyoto Imperial Palace and provide accommodations for shoguns traveling to Kyoto, Nijo-jo Castle is recognized as a World Heritage site. The Ninomaru Palace, a National Treasure, is especially historically significant, and features paintings by the Kano school and a large hall where Yoshinobu Tokugawa declared his intention to return the Imperial Rule of Japan to the Emperor.
- Address:
- 541 Nijojo-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
- Hours:
- 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last entry: 4:00 p.m.)
- Closed:
- Please check the website.
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Kyoto Imperial Palace
The Kyoto Imperial Palace served as the imperial residence where ceremonies and official functions were conducted until the Meiji Restoration. Today, the Kyoto Imperial Palace is open to the public and can be visited by anyone. The Kyoto Gyoen, or Kyoto Imperial Gardens, located around the Kyoto Imperial Palace, is a popular spot for both residents and tourists to enjoy the beauties of nature throughout the year: cherry blossoms in the spring, colored leaves in the fall, and plum blossoms in the winter.
- Address:
- 3 Kyotogyoen, Jokyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
- Hours:
- April to August: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last entry: 4:20 p.m.)
September and March: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (last entry: 3:50 p.m.)
October to December: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (last entry: 3:20 p.m.)
- Closed:
- Mondays (Tuesday if a holiday falls on a Monday) and December 28th to January 4th
*Opening arrangements may be subject to change at short notice due to Imperial Court events or any other operational reasons.
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Seimei Shrine
Seimei Shrine is devoted to Seimei Abe, an astronomer who lived in the middle of the Heian era (794-1185). The shrine was built in 1007 at the site of Seimei's residence by order of Emperor Ichijo, who praised Seimei's great achievements.
- Address:
- 806 Seimei-cho, Jokyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
- Hours:
- 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
*The conferment place closes at 4:30 p.m.
- URL:
https://www.seimeijinja.jp/ – Japanese