Kyoto University Museum (KUM)
Kyoto University Museum (KUM) is the oldest university museum in Japan and has a valuable, eclectic collection spanning humanities, natural history and engineering.
Kyoto Museums: Kyoto University Museum (KUM)
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Kyoto University Museum 京都大学総合博物館
Kyoto University Museum at Kyoto University on the Hyakumanben (Yoshida) campus is the oldest university museum in Japan (first established in 1914) and has a valuable, eclectic collection spanning humanities, natural history and engineering.
The diverse nature of the exhibits reflects the differing research work of professors at various faculties of the university, often bequeathed to the museum on their passing.
The collection includes historical documents, maps and archaeological and ethnological materials. The natural history section has both stuffed animals and their skeletons, fossils, dried plants, minerals and ores. The engineering section has architectural models of famous buildings, machines, blueprints and various scientific instruments.
Kyoto University Museum, Kyoto University, Japan
Ancient tombs, Kyoto University Museum, Kyoto University, Japan
History of Kyoto University Museum
The new Kyoto University Museum building was completed in 1997 and is one of the largest university museums in Japan.
The aim of the museum is to promote the university's educational and research activities to the wider public.
The museum has thousands of specimens stored in glass cases and there are explanatory wall panels in both Japanese and English.
Skull of an Asian elephant, Kyoto University Museum, Japan
Wall panel, Kyoto University Museum, Japan
Kyoto University Museum Exhibits
Kyoto University Museum has approximately 2.6 million specimens including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.
The first floor includes the lobby, research archive and the museum shop (MuseP) to your left as you enter as well as superb archaeological finds from ancient Japanese culture and East Asia.
Turn right for the following collections: Living Earth, Evolution focused on fossil samples, Primatology (Kyoto University being one of the leaders in the world in this field), the Origin of Cultivated Plants, Biodiversity and mutualism in temperate forests with research from Ashiu near Miyama in the north of Kyoto Prefecture and a recreation of the sights and sounds of the tropical rain forest at Lambir Hills National park in Sarawak, Malaysia.
The second floor has two special rooms for temporary exhibitions, a seminar room and exhibits on Kyoto in the Edo Period and Important Documents of Japan.
Wall panel showing the distribution of Japanese macaques, Kyoto University Museum, Japan
Kyoto University Museum Access
Kyoto University Museum (KUM)
www: (museum.kyoto-u.ac.jp)
Yoshida Honmachi
Sakyo-ku
Kyoto 606-8501
Tel: 075 753 3272
Admission is 400 yen for adults, 300 yen for high school and university students and 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Free admission for people over 70 with ID.
Kyoto University Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday 9 am-4.30 pm (last entry 4 pm); The museum is closed December 28-January 4, June 18 (University Foundation Day) and the third Wednesday of August.
From Kyoto Station, take either the #206 city bus bound for Kitaoji Bus Terminal via Higashiyama St. Get off at "Hyakumanben." You can also take the #17 bus bound for Ginkaku-ji via Kawaramachi St. Get off at "Kyodai Nogakubu-mae." Kyoto buses #3, #31, #201 and #203 are also convenient.
From Marutamachi Station or Demachiyanagi Station, on the Keihan railway line, it is a 10-15 minute walk east to the main campus at Yoshida.
For a full listing of Kyoto Museums & Art Galleries click here
Kyoto University Hyakumanben (Yoshida) campus, Kyoto, Japan
