Fukuda Art Museum — Attraction in Kyoto

Unfortunately, this museum gave us the worst ever museum experience in Japan (I live in Japan for years). To start with, this museum is too small if not for the air conditioning provided in a hot summer day visiting Arashiyama. My friend and I accidentally touched the exhibition glass wall when we were too excited about the cute animals in the paintings, and one staff lady immediately came and lectured us not to touch it. We fully apologized and understood that it wouldn’t be allowed, even if we only had done it by accident. However, the staff lady kept following us (she literally RAN after us with large sound in the corridor) into the next exhibition while there were at least a dozen other visitors STILL in the old room we left, and there was no visitor in the new exhibition room. It was really sad to feel like we were specifically targeted out of many visitors, and it was really nerve-racking in the new exhibition room where there was only us and the staff lady who...

We visited this gallery specifically to see works by Yumeji.

The exhibition was good and had a decent number of his work displayed.

However, the gallery has a weird atmosphere, in terms of staff behaviour. For example, we arrived early so waited right outside the entrance to the gallery, within the museum walls. The staff saw us waiting there and came out to tell us that the museum is open only for the early access visitors so keep off the museum property and to wait on the street outside their complex. Also once we were in, there was an elderly couple chatting, very quietly, about the displayed work and to my astonishment the floor staff approached them asking to be quiet, presumably so they won’t disturb others. Well, what is the point of visiting an art museum if you can’t share the appreciation of the displayed work with your friends!?

We didn’t known until the end of our visit but photographing of the works displayed,...

If you want to escape the Arashiyama crowds, you'll appreciate the quiet, calm, refined environment of the Fukuda Art Museum. Beautifully designed, this minimalist interior enhances any exhibition on display within its three galleries. Exhibitions change regularly. The two I've seen included Japanese artists from a wide range of eras, including the 20th century. The gift shop could have a wider range of products, though what is there is beautiful. The cafe has a wonderful view of the water garden and the river, but we found the food on offer a bit ordinary. If you're looking for a nice afternoon tea, go across the road to the patisserie. Visit the Fukuda Art Museum...