Do you enjoy Japan?

Sometimes it is really difficult to decide what to do during trip. Especially in case of bad weather.
Just before hot summer, the most rainy season comes to Japan. We call it “Tsuyu”.
From June to early July is that season in Kyoto.

This article is just to let you know how to enjoy in Kyoto under rain.
Let’s enjoy rainy Kyoto!

1. Museum

Since Kyoto was a capital city for 1,000 years and is the most historical city in Japan, there are various museums.
In the rainy day, those museum will be on the list of what to do in Kyoto.
From the followings, you could find the one you could have an interest.

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum

If you like Sake, Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum is worth-to-visit spot.
This museum is in Fushimi ward which is the most famous place for high-quality sake in Japan.
In this museum, you could learn the history, culture, and how to make sake.
Also, you can taste three different sake in this museum.

Entrance Fee- Adult:300 yen, Child (from 12 to 17 years old):100 yen, Under 11 years old: Free
Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum :http://www.gekkeikan.co.jp/english/kyotofushimi/museum.html

Kyoto Railway Museum

You may be surprised by how punctual and how convenient trains are in Japan.
Actually, train is indispensable in Japanese society.
Kyoto Railway Museum is the biggest railway museum in Japan.
Here, you could touch the railway culture and learn the history of the railway innovation.
From the rich and massive collection, you must be overwhelmed.

Entrance Fee- Adult: 1,200 yen, University/Colleage/high school students: 1,000 yen, Junior high/elementary school students: 500 yen, Kids over 3 years: 200 yen
Kyoto Railway Museum :http://www.kyotorailwaymuseum.jp/en/

List of Other museum

Nishijin Textile Center
http://nishijin.or.jp/eng/nishijin_textile_center
Kyoto Kaleidoscope Museum
http://k-kaleido.org/e-information/
Furuta Oribe Museum
http://furutaoribe-museum.com/about-e.html
Kyoto Cultural Museum
http://www.bunpaku.or.jp/en/
Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts Fureaikan
https://kmtc.jp/en/display-en/exhibition/
Hosomi Museum
http://www.emuseum.or.jp/eng/index.html
Kyoto International Manga Museum
https://www.kyotomm.jp/en/
Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art
http://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/kmma/en/en/about/index.html
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
http://www.momak.go.jp/English/index.html
Kahitsukan Kyoto Museum of Comtemporary Art
http://www.kahitsukan.or.jp/frame_e.html
Kyoto National Museum
http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/index.html
Forever Museum of Contemporary Art
http://www.fmoca.jp/en/index.html

2. Temple and other historical sites

There are a lot of temples in Kyoto (app. 1,700).
Some temple has a beautiful garden and you can enjoy the view from the inside.
It is the special thing to enjoy the view and feel the flow of time while hearing falling rain, apart from the hustle and bustle.

Genko-an

Genko-an is known for two big windows. One is round and another one is square.
The round window is called “The Window of Enlightenment” and the square one is called “The Window of Confusion”
Since Genko-an is very quiet, it is a good place to enjoy the time.

Entrance Fee- Adult: 400 yen
Genko-an Temple : https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g298564-d1594880-Reviews-Genkoan-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

Sanjusangendo Temple (Rengeo-in)

Forest of Buddha Statues is a nickname of Sanjusangen-do.
The temple hall is longest wooden structure in Japan and there are 1001 wooden statues of Buddha.
Every statues were made approximately 1,000 years ago for wish of gentle and easy death.
Since Sanjusangen-do is very close to Kyoto National Museum, visiting those two places is a golden route for rainy day.

Entrance Fee- Adult:600 yen, Child:300 yen
Sanjusangen-do : https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g298564-d321411-Reviews-Sanjusangendo_Temple-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

List of Other recommended temples or historical sites in the rainy day

Kennin-ji Temple
https://vrzone-pic.com/en/
Daitoku-ji Temple
http://zen.rinnou.net/head_temples/07daitoku.html
Ryoan-ji Temple
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g298564-d1386112-Reviews-Ryoanji_Temple-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
Eikando Temple
http://www.eikando.or.jp/English/index_eng.html
Nanzen-ji Temple
http://tokyo-joypolis.com/
Nijo Castle
http://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/nijojo/english/index.html
Nijo Jinya
http://nijyojinya.net/English.html

3. Experience Onsen (Hot spring) in Kyoto

During a long trip, sometimes you feel tired.
In that case, let’s take a day trip to Onsen (Hot spring).
It is highly recommended not only as an experience, but also to cure your fatigue.
The followings are the list of Onsen in Kyoto.

List of Onsen (Hot spring) in Kyoto

4. Cultural Experience or Workshop

Tea Ceremony

In Kyoto, there are a lot of places offer you a tea ceremony because tea ceremony has been developed in Kyoto.
It is top of the things to do in Kyoto if you really want to taste Japanese Culture.
Since tea ceremony is normally provided under roof, it is recommended in the rainy day.
One of the most reputable places is Tea Ceremony Experience EN locates in Gion District.
But if it is far from your place, consider another place and check the location from the following list.

Tea Ceremony Experience EN (Map; https://goo.gl/maps/Q8cY2eeAa542 )
http://www.teaceremonyen.com/
Ami Kyoto (Map; https://goo.gl/maps/DfH7VB2h62v )
https://www.whattodoinkyoto.com/tea-ceremony/
Tea Ceremony Camellia Flower (Map; https://goo.gl/maps/XvA33g9R5Ky)
https://www.tea-kyoto.com/
Tea Ceremony Room Ju-an (Map; https://goo.gl/maps/dr4uXkLZ2ix )
https://www.tearoomjuan.com/
Tea Ceremony Nagomi Arashiyama (Map; https://goo.gl/maps/DnNvyuohJEB2)
http://kyoto-nagomi-matcha.com/en
Tea Ceremony Koto (Map; https://goo.gl/maps/kDcC4pq8kv12)
http://teaceremony-kyoto.com/

Other Experience or workshop

5. Theater

Gion Corner

Gion Corner shows you seven kinds of traditional Japanese performing arts.
The Most famous one is a dance performance by Maiko.
It locates on Hanamikoji alley in Gion District and next to Gion corner,
there is Forever Museum of Contemporary Art known for Yayoi Kusama.
Around here, you could enjoy traditional performing art and contemporary installation art.

http://www.kyoto-gioncorner.com/global/en.html

6. Shopping

Nishiki Market

If you do not have any idea about what to buy or what to eat, visit and explore Nishiki Market.
There are App. 130 stores on a 400 meters of street with roof.
You can bite local foods and find a souvenir.
Business hour of most shops is from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Nishiki Market : https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3931.html
Nishiki Market Food Tour : https://japanwondertravel.com/products/kyoto-foodrink-tour-nishiki-street-gion

List of other shopping spot

Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcade
http://www.shinkyogoku.or.jp/foreign/english.html
Furukawacho Shopping Street
http://kyoto-syoutengai.com/en/area/shimogyo-higashiyama/outline/furukawacho/
Kyoto Station Building
https://www.kyoto-station-building.co.jp/

7. Others

Kyoto Tower

Kyoto Tower is a place not only to enjoy panoramic view, but also to have unique experience and buy unique products.
Inside of tower, there are shops, restaurants, bar, public bathhouse, and workshop to make your own plastic fake foods.

https://www.keihanhotels-resorts.co.jp/kyoto-tower/en/

Kyoto Aquarium

http://www.kyoto-aquarium.com/en/

How do you think?

Of course, even though it is raining, you can enjoy outside spots!! It is less people than sunny day, you could walk around slowly.

We hope you have wonderful days in Kyoto & Japan!

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What to do on rainy day in Kyoto