Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition, Kyoto 2026

Why You Should Visit

The Kyoto leg of the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition, Japan's leading open competition for new work in traditional crafts, held since 1954. Pieces are shown in seven fields: ceramics, textiles, lacquer, metalwork, wood and bamboo, dolls, and other crafts. The 73rd edition starts at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi in Tokyo and tours the country; Kyoto shows 319 selected works. Artists, among them Living National Treasures, give gallery talks every day until 11 October, and admission is only ¥500, free for university students and younger. The hall is on the 7th floor of Kyoto Takashimaya on the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing, directly linked underground to Hankyu Kyoto-kawaramachi Station, an easy detour from Gion or Nishiki Market.

Essentials

location

Grand Hall, 7F, Kyoto Takashimaya S.C. (department store)

period

October 7, 2026 (Wed) - October 12, 2026 (Mon)

Time

10:30–19:00 (last entry 18:30)
・Final day, Mon 12 Oct (national holiday): closes 17:00 (last entry 16:30)

cost

Adults ¥500 (advance ¥300); university students and younger free
・Holders of a disability certificate and one companion enter free

Links

Official Website

Kobe · Gluten-free

Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)

access

Directly connected underground to Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line; Gion-shijo Station on the Keihan Line is a short walk across the Kamo River. The store has its own car park, but it asks visitors to come by public transport.

There are 12 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Grand Hall, 7F, Kyoto Takashimaya S.C. (department store), and 5 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.

TICKETS / REGISTRATION

No booking needed. Advance tickets are sold through Seven Ticket and Lawson Ticket until Tue 6 October.

NOTE

Gallery talks by exhibitors

Wed 7 Oct 14:00 Textiles: Kunihiko Moriguchi (Living National Treasure)
Thu 8 Oct 14:00 Other crafts: Akira Watanabe
Fri 9 Oct 14:00 Dolls: Michiko Kimura
Sat 10 Oct 14:00 Metalwork: Masatoyo Miyoshi (Living National Treasure) / 15:00 Lacquer: Hyoetsu Miki
Sun 11 Oct 14:00 Wood and bamboo: Akira Murayama (Living National Treasure) / 15:00 Ceramics: Iwao Shinno (Living National Treasure)

Artists on their own work (prize-winners and selected exhibitors)

Fri 9 Oct 11:30 Ceramics: Shusaku Ichino
Sat 10 Oct 11:30 Textiles: Miyairi (宮入映)

Special display: Passing on the Craft

Panels, finished work and tools of Living National Treasure Zenzo Fukushima (ceramics)

※Organisers: City of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education, NHK Kyoto, The Asahi Shimbun, Japan Kogei Association

FAQ

How much do students pay?

University students and younger enter free. Adults pay ¥500 on the day or ¥300 in advance.

Can I hear the artists talk about their work?

Yes. Exhibitors give gallery talks at 14:00 every day from 7 to 11 October, with a second talk at 15:00 on the 10th and 11th. Prize-winners and selected exhibitors also talk about their own work at 11:30 on the 9th and 10th.

What time does it close on the final day?

On Monday 12 October (a national holiday) it closes at 17:00, with last entry at 16:30.

Calendar

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