Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館)
The Kyoto National Museum is run by the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. It opened in May 1897.
It is an institution for the collection, preservation and exhibition of cultural properties, mainly those of the Kyoto culture from the Heian through Edo periods. Additionally, special exhibitions are held at the museum two or three times each year.
Among its exhibition halls, the main hall (Special Exhibition Hall) was designed by Tokuma KATAYAMA, a leading architect for the Imperial Household, and the new hall (the Collections Hall) was designed by Keichi MORITA, a professor emeritus at Kyoto University.
Its collection includes 27 items designated as national treasures and 181 items designated as important cultural properties (as of March 2006). For its buildings, the main hall, the front gate (main gate), the ticket office and sodebei (outside wall) were designated as important cultural properties in 1969 as "the Former Imperial Museum of Kyoto," and the Technical Materials Center (Kyu Onshi Kyoto Hakubutsukan Chinretsuhin Shunoyo Soko) was designated as a national cultural facility in 2008.
The following projects are under way: dismantlement of the Collections Hall (December 2008); the plan for construction of Centennial Hall for regular exhibitions (tentative name; designed by Yoshio TANIGUCHI, with construction work from January 31, 2009 and completion scheduled for March 31, 2013); the plan to build the South Gate Museum Shop (tentative name; designed by Yoshio TANIGUCHI, with construction work from July 1, 2008 and completion scheduled for January 31, 2009).
Along with the dismantlement of the Collections Hall and the construction of Centennial Hall (tentative name), the regular exhibition was halted on December 7, 2008, and the museum will be closed except for periods of special exhibitions at the main hall (Special Exhibition Hall) (although special exhibitions will be given as usual).
Facilities
Special Exhibition Hall (the former main hall): designed by Tokuma KATAYAMA, completed in 1895, an important cultural property
The Collections Hall: designed by Keichi MORITA, completed in 1966
Main Gate: designed by Tokuma KATAYAMA, completed in 1895, an important cultural property
South Gate: designed by Yoshio TANIGUCHI, completed in 2001
Office Building
Materials Building
Administration Building
Conservation Center for CulturalProperties
Technical Materials Center: completed in 1930, a registered tangible cultural property
East Repository
North Repository
Tea House "Tanan"
List of National Treasures
The following are among the national treasures stored at the Kyoto National Museum and owned by the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage:
Kenpon Chakushoku Yamagoe Amidazu (Amida Coming over the Mountain, color painting on silk)
Kenpon Chakushoku Senzuibyobu (Landscape Screen with Figures, color painting on silk)
Kenpon Chakushoku Shaka Kinkan Shutsugenzu (Shaka (Sakyamuni) Rising from the Golden Coffin, color painting on silk)
Kenpon Chakushoku Jyunitenzo (Twelve Devas, color painting on silk)
Shihon Chakushoku Gakisoshi (Scroll of the Hungry Ghosts, color painting on paper)
Shihon Chakushoku Yamainososhi (Diseases and Deformities, color painting on paper)
Shihon Bokuga Tansai Ama no Hashidatezu (View of Ama-no-hashidate, monochrome ink painting on paper) by SESSHU
Shihon Bokuga Renchi Suikinzu (Water Fowl in the Lotus Pond, monochrome ink painting on paper) by Sotatsu TAWARAYA
Hakubyoeryoshi Bokusho Konkomyokyo (Konkomyokyo Sutra on Paper Decorated with Line Drawings：Volume 3)
Koshinhorui (Sacred Treasures of Asuka Shrine)
Long Sword (Tachi), signed "Yasuie"
Long Sword (Tachi), signed "Norikuni"
Ashide E Wakan Roei Sho (Wakan Roeishu Anthology), by FUJIWARA no Koreyuki
Ippon Kyo kaishi (14 sheets, by SAIGYO, JAKUREN and others)
Kongo Hannyakyo Kaidai Zannkan (Segment of the Kongohannyakyo Sutra Commentary), by Kobodaishi (63 lines)
Kokin Wakashu Anthology, Surviving Portion of Vol. XII (Honami Gire Bon)
Kohon Hokuzan Sho (Manual on Courtly Etiquette, Volume 10)
Tekagami "Moshiogusa Album of Exemplary Calligraphy" (241 detached segments)
Jomyo Genron (Commentary on the Vimalakirti Sutra)
Shinsen Ruirin Sho (Segment of the Anthology of Xinzhuan leilin chao, Volume 4)
Sesetsu Shinsho, Segment of Volume 6
Senju Sengen Darani Kyo (Segment of the Senju sengen daranikyo Sutra) (by Genbo on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of 741A.D.)
Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan, chapters 22 and 24)
Nihon Shoki Jindai ("The Age of the Gods" chapter from the Chronicles of Japan) (Yoshida Bon)
Manyoshu (Segment of the of the Anthology of Ten Thousand Leaves, Volume 9) (Ranshi of indigo-paper version)
Myoeshomin Kashu (Collection of Poems by the Priest Myoe), by Koshin
Draft Letters by FUJIWARA no Tadamichi
Access
From Kyoto Station of West Japan Railway Company, or from Kyoto Station of Kintetsu Corporation. Take any of the City Bus routes 100, 206, 208 (at gates D1, D2, Karasumaguchi) and get off at "Museum, Sanjusangendo Mae"; the site is just a short walk away. Take a bus of the Princess Line (from Hachijoguchi) and get off at "Higashiyama Shichijo"; the site is a minute away on foot. It is located seven minutes on foot from Shichijo Station of the Keihan Main Line.