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The Kyoto National Museum opened in 1897, originally named the "Imperial Kyoto Museum." It currently houses approximately 14,600 items in its collection, focusing on artworks and artifacts with deep connections to Kyoto, as well as ancient artworks and excavated relics from Japan and East Asia. In its curated exhibitions centered around the museum's collection, the museum carefully selects and displays archaeological artifacts, ceramics, Buddhist statues, and other sculptures, as well as paintings, calligraphy, textiles, lacquerware, and metal crafts that reflect the artistic craftsmanship nurtured by Kyoto's history from the Heian period (794-1192) to modern times. In addition, the museum also hosts large special exhibitions every year.
The Kyoto National Museum has two exhibition halls. The first is the Western-style brick building "Meiji Koto-kan." This building has maintained its original state since the museum's opening and is designated as an important cultural property by the national government (currently closed for seismic reinforcement work as of July 2021).
The second hall is the "Heisei Chishin-kan," completed in 2014 and designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, who also designed the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Its exterior features sharp, modern lines, and inside, there is a café called "The Muses," operated by the luxury hotel "Hyatt Regency Kyoto," as well as a gift shop called "Kyoto Benrido" selling museum-related merchandise. Additionally, the café "Maeda Coffee," located at the south gate, offers beautiful views of the Meiji Koto-kan and the garden.
