The Museum of Kyoto is a useful grounding stop in a city where the temples can otherwise blur together. Its permanent displays cover Kyoto's urban life, crafts, festivals, and long history as Japan's imperial capital, with a strong collection of old ceramics.
The museum sits in the former Kyoto branch of the Bank of Japan, a handsome red-brick Meiji-era building. It works well at the start of a Kyoto visit, especially before diving into the older neighbourhoods around Nishiki, Gion, and Higashiyama.