Kyoto Museum

This impressive red brick façade is part of the Kyoto Museum, a cultural complex that opened in 1988 to mark the 1,200th anniversary of the city’s founding. What makes this site unique is that it brings together two very different buildings. The one right in front of you is the former Kyoto branch of the Bank of Japan, completed in 1906 by architect Tatsuno Kingo, who is also famous for designing Tokyo Station. With its red brick walls, pale stone bands, and small corner towers, the building has a strong Western feel and is now designated as an Important Cultural Property. You can step inside free of charge to explore exhibitions and special events held in this historic space. Just beside it stands a newer and much more understated structure, which serves as the museum’s main building. Inside, a permanent exhibition traces Kyoto’s long history through everyday objects, artworks, and even a full-scale reconstruction of an Edo-period street, where you can walk past traditional shopfronts and façades as if stepping back in time. The museum also includes a well-known Film Theater that screens classic Japanese films every day, offering another way to experience Kyoto’s culture through the lens of cinema.