The Kyoto Arashiyama Orgel Museum — Attraction in Kyoto

I read about the place 2 years back when we visited Arashimaya Kyoto area but no chance then to visit. Managed to visit the place 2 weeks back and very lucky to get the staff/curator to walk us through the different exhibits. We waited for a few others before we were ushered into a room and given a demonstration of how the various musical boxes (some very intricate and large ones) worked. We were very impressed with the guide who could do a fluent English translation immediately after each Japanese explanation. Amazing to see and hear how some of these still work even though they some were made more than a century ago. Some of the more intricate ones with more complex mechanisms were only available durng the curwted tour and we were not allowed to take any pics or videos.It's like visiting a piece of history unfold before your eyes . Total time taken was about 2 hours . Its right at the end of the shopping street. Can buy musical boxes at L1 shop after the...

Was the highlight of our visit to Arashiyama!!! Had a “concert” aka tour around the museum on the 2nd floor for 1000yeN (two people with discount). The guide allowed us to first stroll around and take as many pictures and videos for 10 minutes. He kept on playing three different orgels/music boxes one by one. Afterwards, the guide walked us to different orgels and explained about its origin, characteristics, played each orgels that he explained, and etc. Couldn’t ask any detailed questions as the guide only spoke what’s needed to guide the museum. Every orgels were handmade and so delicate! After the tour, I couldn’t shake off the urge to buy myself a music box so I did. There’s a store that you can buy your own on the first floor (lobby). A must visit...

One of the best, interesting, hyper-specific museum I've ever visited!

The current exhibition was all about music boxes from the world's first music box to antique, ones from the turn of the century! From large Music boxes (the size of a full piano) to tiny specific music boxes (cigar box music box!)

If you have some time before the Bamboo Forest trip, I recommend checking it out!

The older museum curator/docent was very informative and made our experience at the museum truly magical! It's a breathtaking experience!! You'll be in awe the entire time seeing antique 19th and 20th animatronic moving figures! They're so life-like for being built and created in the 19th and...