Kyocera Museum of Art

There are so many reasons to linger in Kyoto besides the red maple leaves and cherry blossoms. I absolutely loved the Kyocera Museum of Art during this trip. When I got off the bus and saw the exterior of the building, the perfect blend of Japanese and Western styles was especially fitting for the chilly weather that day. The interior has a gentle and elegant marble white texture. Originally built in 1933, it was renovated in 2017 by renowned Japanese architects Jun Aoki and Tezzo Nishizawa. The special exhibition features works by master artists, mainly Japanese paintings. 🎨 Address: 124 Okazaki Enshoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 🕙 Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (closed on Mondays) 📷 Photography is allowed, but generally not of the exhibited paintings. If you like a piece, you can buy a postcard to keep it. Besides the century-old museum, there is also the century-old café Smart Coffee, which opened in 1932 during the Showa period. I finally got to eat there after queuing for over 30 minutes on a Monday morning. 🍞 French Toast I personally love it, as it brings back nostalgic childhood memories of egg-coated fried bread. The toast is soaked in egg liquid, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, somewhat similar to the texture of Hong Kong-style French toast. Highly recommend this! 🥪 Egg and Ham Sandwich The eggs are super smooth and also worth ordering. ☕️ Blended Coffee The black coffee is made from beans roasted in-house, which is perfect for balancing the sweetness of the food. The roasting machine is right in the store, so you can enjoy the aroma of roasting beans while sipping your coffee. Another café, Inoda, is also located near Shijo Kawaramachi, close to Smart Coffee. Their main products are different, so I’ll try it next time if I get the chance.