Gallery of Kyoto Traditional Arts & Crafts

Highlight

Nearly all of Kyoto’s traditional crafts can be found in the gallery and the skillful work of artisans can be viewed

A place where makers and users meet

Kyoto boasts many arts and crafts, such as Buddha statue and ceramics. And, this gallery was opened in 2003 to offer information of the beauty and exquisiteness of those craft works to people around the world.
Occupying four floors, the gallery is managed by the Kyoto Traditional Craft Industry Support Center, which is a meeting place between makers (craftmen) and end users (consumers). Most of the exhibits are provided by the students of the Traditional Arts Super College of Kyoto (TASK), with the permanent collection is made up of pieces that represent each craft. Notably, on the 1st and 2nd floors, Buddhist sculptures, lacquerware, bamboo and washi paper pieces, which are the graduation projects of TASK students and specialty pieces by TASK teachers. Up on the 3rd floor, there is a demonstration corner where young craft workers give demonstrations every week on different craft skills. Visitors can watch work in progress and ask questions directly, all of which makes this corner a very popular one. At the shop corner on the 3rd floor, the works of TASK graduates are on display which can be purchased.