The Tale of Genji: Radiant Culture of the Japanese Imperial Court

Choose your date around the work you most want to see. The National Treasure Tale of Genji Scroll shows Hashihime from 3–15 November and Yadorigi III from 17–29 November. The Teika manuscript Wakamurasaki is shown throughout, while all five surviving Teika Genji volumes appear together only from 3–15 November. Part I, 6 October–1 November, includes the Wakamurasaki leaf from an Important Cultural Property album, a portrait of Murasaki Shikibu and the Sekiya/Miotsukushi screens. Part II, 3–29 November, includes a pale-blue kosode. The Hatsune trousseau Uji incense box and Uji Princesses are listed throughout. This is a strong reason to plan a Kyoto museum visit by date rather than by the exhibition title alone. Some objects rotate within the two broad parts, and the museum may change works or display periods, so check the current Kyoto object list before travelling.

Reservation

Reservation is usually not required

Tickets / booking

General admission does not require a timed reservation. Same-day admission is ¥2,200 for adults, ¥1,200 for university students and ¥700 for high-school students; advance and group rates are ¥2,000, ¥1,000 and ¥500. Advance sales run from 6 August through 5 October, and group rates apply to groups of 20 or more. Students should bring ID. Junior-high students and younger visitors aged 0–15 enter free, as do visitors with an eligible disability certificate and one caregiver. Check the official ticket page for campus-member and programme-specific conditions.

Price note

Same-day ¥2,200 adults, ¥1,200 university students and ¥700 high-school students; advance/group ¥2,000, ¥1,000 and ¥500. Junior-high students and younger visitors aged 0–15 are free. Eligible disabled visitors and one caregiver are free with documentation. The rental audio guide is ¥700 in Japanese or English; the ¥800 app guide is Japanese only.

Access

From Keihan Shichijo Station, Kyoto National Museum is about seven minutes on foot. From Kyoto Station, the museum lists city buses 206 and 208 to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae, where the museum is immediately beside the stop; the Princess Line reaches Higashiyama Shichijo, about one minute away on foot. Walking from Kyoto Station takes about 20 minutes. Confirm live transit information before departure.

Rain

The exhibition is indoors, so rain mainly affects the approach to the museum and any outdoor sightseeing you add. Check live museum and transport notices before setting out.

Crowds

The official sources do not publish a crowd forecast. Short rotations such as the 3–15 November group display can concentrate interest, so allow time before the final admission deadline and avoid building a tight connection after the visit.

Nearby spots

If you add sightseeing in the Higashiyama and Shichijo area, keep the museum as the fixed anchor. The object rotation you selected and the museum’s last-entry time matter more than fitting in an extra stop.

Itinerary hint

First choose the exact object window, then decide whether to visit during regular hours or use a Friday opening until 20:00. Arrive with enough time for the galleries before last entry, and place any nearby stop before or after the museum without risking the work-specific visit.