Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
| TEMPLE
HŌNEN-IN
OFFLINE MAP
(
法然院
; 771-2400; 30 Goshono dan-chō, Shishigatani, Sakyō-ku; 6am-4pm; 10min walk from
Ginkaku-ji-michi bus stop, bus 5 or 17 from Kyoto Station)
One of Kyoto's hidden pleasures, this temple
was founded in 1680 to honour the priest Hōnen. It's a lovely, secluded temple with care-
fully raked gardens set back in the woods. The temple buildings include a small gallery
where frequent exhibitions featuring local and international artists are held. If you need to
escape the crowds that positively plague nearby Ginkaku-ji, come to this serene refuge.
Hōnen-in is a 12-minute walk from Gin kaku-ji, on a side street above the Tetsugaku-
OKAZAKI-KŌEN
OFFLINE MAP
(
岡崎公園
; Sakyō-ku, Okazaki; Kyoto Kaikan/Bijyutsukan-mae bus stop, bus 5 from Kyoto Station;
10min walk from Higashiyama Station, Tōzai subway line)
Okazaki-kōen is an expanse of parks and
canals that lies between Niōmon-dōri and Heian-jingū. Two of Kyoto's significant mu-
seums can be found here, as well as two smaller museums and a zoo. If you find yourself
in Kyoto on a rainy day and need to do some indoor sightseeing, this area has enough to
keep you sheltered for most of the day. The following five sights are all in the Okazaki-
kōen Area.
| PARK
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
OFFLINE MAP
sion ¥420; 9.30am-5pm Tue-Sun; Kyoto Kaikan/Bijyutsukan-mae bus stop, bus 5 from Kyoto Station;
10min walk from Higashiyama Station, Tōzai subway line)
This museum is renowned for its Japanese
ceramics and paintings. There is an excellent permanent collection, which includes many
pottery pieces by Kawai Kanjirō. The coffee shop here overlooks a picturesque canal.
| MUSEUM
KYOTO MUNICIPAL MUSEUM OF ART
OFFLINE MAP
(
京都市美術館
; 771-4107; 124 Enshōji-chō, Okazaki, Sakyō-ku; 9am-5pm Tue-Sun; Kyoto Kaik-
an/Bijyutsukan-mae bus stop, bus 5 from Kyoto Station; 10min walk from Higashiyama Station, Tōzai subway
line)
This fine museum holds several major exhibitions a year (admission varies), as well as
a variety of free shows. It's always worth stopping by to see if something is on while you
are in town. The pond behind the museum is a great place for a picnic.
| MUSEUM
