Museum · Karasuma-Oike
Kaleidoscope Museum of Kyoto 京都万華鏡ミュージアム
Small hands-on museum in central Kyoto where you can look through and play with dozens of kaleidoscopes, plus make your own.
Hours10:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30)
ClosedMondays (see calendar)
PriceAdult: ¥800
Getting thereKarasuma-Oike Station (Karasuma / Tozai Line), exit 5, 3 min
Time needed30-60 min
Address706-3 Donge-in Mae-cho, Anekoji-dori Higashinotoin Higashi-iru, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto 604-8185
Websitek-kaleido.org
About
Japan's first kaleidoscope museum is in a former school building near Karasuma-Oike. Visitors can pick up and look through about 50 kaleidoscopes on display, from antique-style brass tubes to oil-filled and teleidoscope types. Light shows run in a dark room several times a day. Make-your-own workshops are popular with families.
Highlights
- Hands-on kaleidoscopes of many types
- Kaleidoscope light show in a dark room
- Make-your-own workshops
- Central location near Nishiki Market
Tips
- Most exhibits can be handled
- Workshops are on set days; check the site
- 5 min from Karasuma-Oike Station
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-11
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