The Tale of Genji: Radiant Culture of the Japanese Imperial Court 2026

Dates & time: October 6, 2026 (Tue) - November 29, 2026 (Sun) 9:00–17:30 (last entry 17:00)
・Fridays until 20:00 (last entry 19:30)
・Closed Mondays (open 12 Oct and 23 Nov), plus Tue 13 Oct and Tue 24 Nov
Price & booking: Adults ¥2,200 (advance ¥2,000); university ¥1,200 (¥1,000); high school ¥700 (¥500). Free for junior high school age and under (ID required) Advance tickets until 23:59 on Mon 5 October (see the official ticket page). During the exhibition, tickets are sold at the South Gate ticket office and elsewhere.
Venue & access: Heisei Chishinkan Wing, Kyoto National Museum 7 minutes' walk east from Shichijo Station on the Keihan Line. By car, about 20 minutes from the Kyoto-Higashi exit of the Meishin Expressway; use the paid Mitsui Repark car park on Shichijo-dori in front of the museum.

There are 12 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Heisei Chishinkan Wing, Kyoto National Museum, and 3 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

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Why You Should Visit

A large exhibition on Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji, bringing together around 250 works across its Kyoto and Tokyo showings: picture scrolls, folding screens, manuscripts, lacquerware and Noh costumes. It is the Kyoto National Museum's first Genji exhibition in about 50 years. The National Treasure Tale of Genji Picture Scrolls are on view throughout, with the scene changed every two weeks, and all five surviving volumes of the manuscript edited by Fujiwara no Teika are shown together only from 3 to 15 November, in Kyoto only. A good fit for anyone who wants to see how one novel shaped a thousand years of Japanese art.

NOTE

Highlights

National Treasure Tale of Genji Picture Scrolls: on view throughout, scene changed every two weeks
All five surviving volumes of the Teika manuscript: together only 3–15 Nov (Kyoto only)
The Moriyasu-bon Tale of Genji Scrolls, known as the 'phantom Genji scrolls'
Tawaraya Sotatsu's National Treasure screens Sekiya and Miotsukushi: first half (6 Oct–1 Nov) only
Recreated Genji Noh stage with restored costumes: Aoi no Ue in the first half, Tamakazura in the second (Kyoto only)

Display changes

First half: 6 Oct–1 Nov
Second half: 3–29 Nov

Related programmes

International symposium on The Tale of Genji and Noh: Sun 25 Oct, 13:00–17:00, Heisei Chishinkan auditorium (online application 6–21 Oct)
Audio guide: ¥700 rental (Japanese/English) or ¥800 app (Japanese only)

※Some works also rotate outside the two main periods.

※Part of the Kyoto Museums Four reciprocal discount with the National Museum of Modern Art Kyoto, the Museum of Kyoto and Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art.

※The exhibition travels to Tokyo National Museum from 19 January to 14 March 2027.

Buying tickets

Advance tickets: official online ticket (ARTPASS), etix, Rakuten Travel Experiences, Lawson Ticket (L-code 53035), Ticket PIA (P-code 687-537) and others
ARTPASS, etix and Rakuten tickets are shown on your smartphone; tickets from convenience-store play guides must be printed in store
Groups of 20+ pay the advance price
Free for disability certificate holders plus one companion (ID required)
University and high school students need student ID

Culture Art History Heritage Rainy Day Limited Time Solo Trip

出典: 株式会社桃谷順天館（PR TIMES）

Kobe · Gluten-free

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FAQ

Do the works change between the first and second halves?

Yes. The first half runs 6 October–1 November and the second 3–29 November. The National Treasure picture scrolls change scene every two weeks, and the five Teika manuscript volumes are shown together only from 3 to 15 November.

How much is admission for children?

Admission is free for junior high school age and under. Bring proof of age.

How do I get there from Kyoto Station?

Take city bus 206 or 208 from stop D2 in front of Kyoto Station to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae; the museum is right by the stop. Walking east along Shichijo-dori takes about 20 minutes.

Is there parking?

Yes, the paid Mitsui Repark car park on Shichijo-dori in front of the museum. Show your parking ticket at the information desk on the ground floor of the Heisei Chishinkan to get the first 30 minutes free, or 2 hours free with a disability certificate.