A fresh spring rain
must have passed through all the leaves
to nourish this spring
–Bashō
With a yearly rain average of 58.71 inches, you have a good chance to encounter one of Kyoto’s rainy days.
Here are some great places to enjoy Kyoto on a rainy day.
For anyone who wish to learn more about the cultural history of the city of Kyoto. The museum consist a wide variety of Buddhist statues, calligraphy and more.
Opening hours: 9:30-17:00 (Last entry at 16:30); closed Monday unless a public holiday
Admission: 500 yen for adults.
Address: 527 Chayamachi, Higashiyama-ku, 605-0931. Tel: 075 541 1151.
Website: http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/index.html
Across the street from Kyoto national museum is the marvellous Sanjusangendo Temple.
This remarkable wooden structure is the house for the 1001 carved wooden statues of Kannon – the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy – 500 statues set in ranks on each side of the seated figure of Senju Kannon. The temple hall is with 120 meters Japan’s longest wooden structure.
The temple’s name literally translates as the “thirty-three (sanjusan) spaces between the columns (gen) hall (do)”. where symbolically the number thirty three refers to the number of incarnations Kannon can appear in.
Visiting Sanjusangendo Temple together with Kyoto National Museum is a good choice for rainy weather.
Sanjusangendo is a short bus ride east from Kyoto Station (buses #100, #206 & #208). The nearest station is Shichijo on the Keihan Line.
Opening hours: 8:00 to 17:00 (9:00 to 16:00 from November 16 to March 31) Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time
Admission: 600 Yen.
Address: 657 Mawari-cho, Sanjusangendo, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. Tel: 075 525 0033
Website: http://www.sanjusangendo.jp/
Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts (Fureaikan)
In this museum, not only you can learn about the traditional craft ok Kyoto, but also to see in your own eyes the producing process of various art such as crafting and more.
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (Last entry at 16:30); closed a few days in mid August and over New Year.
Admission: Free.
Address: B1F Miyakomesse, 9-1, Okazaki Seishoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, 606-8343. Tel: 075-762-2670
Website: http://www.miyakomesse.jp/fureaika/index_eng.php
The National Museum for Modern Art
The Gallery`s Collection exhibits selected works of Japanese and Western painting, prints, sculpture and various crafts.
Opening hours: 9:30 – 17:00 (Admission until 16:30) (Please note that the opening hours is subject to change); Closed Every Monday (or, if Monday is a national holiday, the following Tuesday), New Year’s holiday
Admission fee: 900 Yen for adults.
Address: Okazaki Enshoji-cho Sakyo-ku, 606-8344. Tel: 075-761-4111
Website: http://www.momak.go.jp/
One of the oldest art museums in Japan, of about 2100 items that include Japanese paintings, Western paintings, sculpture, handicrafts, calligraphy, and prints.
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30); Close on Mondays and national holidays.
Admission fee: Varies by exhibition.
Address: Okazaki Park, Sakyo-ku, 606-8344. Tel-075-771-4107.
Website: https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/kmma/en/index.html
Kyoto International Manga Museum
A paradise for Japanese Manga lovers. The museum collection holds more than 300,000 Japanese comics (Manga) including rare items from the 19th century and postwar rental books. A paradise for Japanese Manga lovers.
Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Last admission at 17:30); Close: Every Wednesdays (or, if Wednesday is a national holiday, the following Thursday), During the New Year’s holiday and maintenance periods.
Admission fee: 800 Yen for adults.
Address: Karasuma-Oike, Nakagyo-ku, 604-0846 Japan. Tel: 075-254-7414.
Website: http://www.kyotomm.jp/english/
Rich with history and tradition, this market consist more than one hundred shops and restaurants and specializes in food. A great place for buying various Kyoto`s food and goods.
Opening hours: Varies by store, typically 9:00 to 18:00; Closed Varies by store, typically Wednesday or Sunday.
Admission fee: Free
Address: Shijo Agaru, Tominokoji-dori, Nakagyo-ku.
Teramachi Street
Teramachi Street is a historical street and today a modern arcade that contains a variety of shops and services, both traditional and modern.
Opening hours: Varies by store, typically 10:00 to 19:00.
Admission fee: Free
Address: Shijo Agaru, Tominokoji-dori, Nakagyo-ku.
One of Kyoto`s biggest and stylish shopping centers.
Opening hours: 10:00-20:00.
Address: 52 Nishiru Shincho, Shijo dori Kawaramachi, Shimgyo ku. Tel: 075-221-8811
One of Kyoto’s two largest and most luxurious department stores, with everything from elite international brands to local stores and food.
Opening hours: 10:00-20:00.
Address: 79 Tachiuri Nishi-machi, Shijo-dori, Takakura nishi iru, Shimogyo-ku. Tel: 075-211-8111
Yodobashi Camera
In front of Kyoto station lies the biggest electronic store in the city. Consist a variety of goods; from cameras to household merchandises, cloth and more.
Opening hours: 9:30-22:00.
Address: Kyoutoekimae Kyoutotawa-yoko, Shimogyo-ku. Tel: 075-351-1010
Movies
There are several good movie theaters downtown, including the following convenient one (note that the site is in Japanese only)
For arthouse, cult and independent films, check out the following two excellent cinemas (note that the sites are in Japanese only):
COCON Karasuma 3F