Kyoto Art Center
Shijo-Karasuma, Kyoto
- Daily
- 10:00 to 20:00
Hours for the galleries, library and information corner. Closed 28 December to 4 January and now and then for maintenance.
Source: kac.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Kyoto Art Center took over the 1931 building of Meirin Elementary School, which opened in 1869 and closed in 1993. Since 2000 it has run galleries and performances, and it lends studios to young artists free of charge. The ground-floor Maeda Coffee cooks inside an artwork, a box-shaped kitchen tower by the artist Teppei Kaneuji and the architect Toshikatsu Ienari.
Insider tip
Entry is free, though some events charge. The library has about 5,500 items on open shelves, and the information corner hands out flyers from galleries and theatres across Japan. The cafe opens 11:00 to 18:00.
What's on at Kyoto Art Center
Upcoming events at Kyoto Art Center, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
KYOTO EXPERIMENT 2026 Kansai Studies: Konadaba River Topographic Map
KYOTO EXPERIMENT 2026 Kansai Studies｜石原菜々子、金子仁司／kondaba「コンダバ川の地形図」
Time 10:00 to 20:00
An exhibition showing the research process behind a work about the Nakajima area of Fushimi, free to enter.
jmho, Public domain KYOTO EXPERIMENT 2026 SKF: Future Dictionary
KYOTO EXPERIMENT 2026 【SKF】【展示】Future Dictionary
Time 10:00 to 20:00
A project collecting words from artists to make a new dictionary, shown in the library as part of KYOTO EXPERIMENT, free to enter.
jmho, Public domain KYOTO EXPERIMENT 2026: Yamashita Zan and Nhat Tuyen, giot-giot
KYOTO EXPERIMENT 2026 山下 残＆ニャー・トゥイェン with プロジェクト・デイ・サン「giọt-giọt | しずくたち」
Time 22 Oct 14:00, 23 Oct 19:00, 24 Oct 11:00, 25 Oct 6:00 and 12:00
A stage work made by Kyoto choreographer Yamashita Zan with Vietnamese poet Nhat Tuyen, shown in the auditorium as part of KYOTO EXPERIMENT.
jmho, Public domain KAC Partnership Program 2026: Muni, Kyotai
KACパートナーシップ・プログラム2026 ムニ『巨体』
Time 6 and 7 Nov 14:00 and 19:00, 8 Nov 14:00
A theatre piece by the group Muni with seven shows over three days in the free space, all seats unreserved.
jmho, Public domain FOCUS #7: Koki Tanaka, No Time to Sleep / Time to Sleep
FOCUS＃7 田中功起による展覧会『時間がない（ときに眠ること） No Time to Sleep / Time to Sleep』
Time 10:00 to 20:00; closed 25 Nov and 26 Dec to 4 Jan Station Shijo (Karasuma Line)
Solo exhibition by artist Koki Tanaka in the Kyoto Art Center galleries, on the theme of having no time, with admission free.
jmho, Public domain Smaller local events nearby
Superplay: Graphic Design from Rotterdam Exhibition
4 Nov to 13 Jan · Kyoto ddd Gallery, Shijo-Karasuma
A graphic design exhibition at Kyoto ddd Gallery in the COCON Karasuma building, with a free talk on 7 November. Closed Mondays except 23 Nov and 11 Jan, the day after holidays and 28 Dec to 4 Jan.
Free · Tue to Fri 11:00 to 19:00, Sat, Sun and holidays 11:00 to 18:00 · Map · Source: Kyoto ddd Gallery · 京都dddギャラリー第254回企画展 Superplay －ロッテルダムのグラフィックデザイン
Nearby
Around Shijo-Karasuma
Kyoto's old bank corner, with kimono streets one block back
Shijo-Karasuma is the crossing where the subway meets the Hankyu line from Osaka, and by 1915 three of the big banks stood on it. It doesn't look much like the Kyoto on the posters. Walk one block west, though, and you're on Muromachi-dori, the old kimono wholesalers' street, near the lanes where the Gion Matsuri floats are built every July.
Shijo-Karasuma has 16 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 4 shops, 3 shrines and temples, 3 cafes, 3 museums, 1 restaurant, 1 bar and 1 neighbourhood. Read the Shijo-Karasuma guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Kyoto Art Center?
- 546-2 Yamabushiyamacho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市中京区室町通蛸薬師下る山伏山町546-2).
- What are the opening hours of Kyoto Art Center?
- Daily 10:00 to 20:00. Hours for the galleries, library and information corner. Closed 28 December to 4 January and now and then for maintenance.
- How do I get to Kyoto Art Center?
- The nearest station is Shijo (Karasuma Line). Kyoto Art Center is in Shijo-Karasuma, Kyoto.
- How much does Kyoto Art Center cost?
- Nothing. Kyoto Art Center is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Kyoto Art Center?
- Plan for 45 min.
- When is the best time to visit Kyoto Art Center?
- Afternoons.
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