10 Specialty Museums in Kinki That You Shouldn't Miss

April 10, 2022 Emerita Lamoureux

The Kansai region (関西地方, Kansai-chihō) or the Kinki region (近畿地方, Kinki-chihō) lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga, sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Tottori. While the use of the terms "Kansai" and "Kinki" have changed over history, in most modern contexts the use of the two terms is interchangeable. The urban region of Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto (Keihanshin region) is the second-most populated in Japan after the Greater Tokyo Area.
Restaurants in Kinki

1. Osaka Shiritsu Toyo Toji Museum

1-1-26 Nakanoshima, Kita-Ku, Osaka 530-0005 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6223-0055 http://www.moco.or.jp/
Excellent
47%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 275 reviews

Osaka Shiritsu Toyo Toji Museum

A collection of Japanese, Chinese and Korean ceramics – among the best in the world – is displayed at this outstanding museum.

Reviewed By DzulhilmiZulkifli - Putrajaya, Malaysia

I visited this place on february, it is just nice. Easy to access by subway, just a few hundreds walking distance.

2. Kotohiki Hamanakisuna Culture Museum

1250 Aminocho Kakezu, Kyotango 629-3112 Kyoto Prefecture +81 772-72-5511 http://www.nakisuna.jp/
Excellent
40%
Good
60%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5 reviews

Kotohiki Hamanakisuna Culture Museum

3. National Museum of Ethnology

10-1 Senribanpakukoen, Suita 565-0826 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6876-2151 http://www.minpaku.ac.jp/
Excellent
59%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 176 reviews

National Museum of Ethnology

Reviewed By Buckster21 - London, United Kingdom

In the centre of the Expo Park, and some way out of the city, this museum is definitely worth a visit. The second floor is a huge set of rooms that are informative (and usually in English too) and very well laid out. The place is an academic centre too, which probably explains the outstanding quality of the exhibits. You will learn about other cultures, not just in Asia, and see samples of their art, religion and dress. As an example of how to explain changes in societies, this place is hard to beat.

4. Mint Museum

1-1-79 Temma, Kita-Ku, Osaka 530-0043 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6351-5361 http://www.mint.go.jp/enjoy/plant-osaka/plant_visit_museum_h.html
Excellent
45%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 541 reviews

Mint Museum

Tour the facility that produces Japanese coins and medals of honor and visit the historic coinage museum year-round. If you visit during the spring, you might catch the cherry blossoms on the Mint's 400 cherry trees.

5. Cup Noodle Museum Osaka Ikeda

8-25 Masumicho, Ikeda 563-0041 Osaka Prefecture +81 72-752-3484 http://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/ja/osaka_ikeda/
Excellent
48%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 683 reviews

Cup Noodle Museum Osaka Ikeda

Dedicated to ramen noodle cups, the museum showcases the mind-boggling number of instant ramen flavor variations that have come out over the years and a reproduction of the hut where Momofuku Ando first created them.

Reviewed By M_Danial - Singapore, Singapore

We visited last year, and we decided to visit again this year because of how fun it was. It's located near Ikeda station in Kansai (Osaka), though you'll need to take a private line to reach there (meaning it won't be covered under the Japan Rail pass). You'll also want to take the express train there as it's significantly faster. Once at Ikeda, it's a short walk to the museum. There'll be a lot of school children visiting as well. Entry is free, but you can rent an English audio guide if you want to watch and listen to the exhibits. There's an area where you can design your own Cup Noodle (each cup is about JPY300). Once you buy the number of cups you want, you get directed to seat at a table to design your own cup with the markers the provide. Once you're done with designing, you can proceed to make your Cup Noodle proper. First stop on the line is where the staff will help to load up the noodle, and you'll have to help with spinning the wheel. Next, you'll have to choose the soup base (Original, Chilli Tomato, Seafood or Curry), as well as up to 4 ingredients to go along with it (such as green onion, prawn, etc). Last, they'll heat wrap the cup with plastic after sealing the lid. Last of all, you can put the Cup Noodle in a bag and inflate it to keep it safe, though you won't be able to bring it on the flight if you do so. However, if you plan to give it as a give, feel free to take the bag and corresponding string without inflating it!

6. Kids Plaza Osaka

2-1-7 Ogimachi, Kita-Ku, Osaka 530-0025 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6311-6601 http://www.kidsplaza.or.jp/
Excellent
47%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 368 reviews

Kids Plaza Osaka

Please note that even if you use the "Skip the Line: Kids Plaza Osaka Admission Ticket" sold by JTRweb limited, you cannot get priority entry. In order to redeem the ticket for an admission ticket, you must wait in line to buy the ticket. This is a very interesting children's museum and is the best way for travelers with children in Osaka. There are many educational and playful exhibits and activities for children. The Kids Town designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser,an Austrian architect, is through the 4th floor and the 5th floor. In Japan, this is the only member of ACM, Association of Children's Museums.

Reviewed By DaisyTulipNorwich

An awesome experience for children (and adults). TV studios, nature sections, interactive games, play areas. Miniature kitchens for children to cook.

7. Kawasaki Good Times World

2-2 Hatobacho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe 650-0042 Hyogo Prefecture +81 78-327-5401 http://www.khi.co.jp/kawasakiworld/
Excellent
45%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 353 reviews

Kawasaki Good Times World

Reviewed By allanl912

A really good little museum. As Kawasaki is one of the most important Japanese companies that existed through the Meiji restoration, WW2, and up to the modern era....this museum is also a history of modern Japan itself. It's also very important to the port of Kobe where Kawasaki is a large company. There is plenty to fascinate history buffs, those interested in engineering, and of course there are the motorbikes which are just cool by themselves :)

8. Koshien History Museum

1-82 Koshiencho, Nishinomiya 663-8152 Hyogo Prefecture +81 798-49-4509 http://koshien-rekishikan.hanshin.co.jp/
Excellent
55%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 101 reviews

Koshien History Museum

9. Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

7-5-1 Kumochicho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe 651-0056 Hyogo Prefecture +81 78-242-0216 http://www.dougukan.jp/
Excellent
74%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 149 reviews

Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

Reviewed By passthemayo - Kericho, Kenya

Its amazing to think that all this detailed woodwork was done by hand! This museum, while small, is a great revelation into the skill and traditions in Japan. Its also a quiet pleasant way to spend a few hours and close to a train station. I highly recommend a visit if you are in Kobe.

10. Alphonse Mucha Museum

1-2-200 Tadeicho, Sakai-ku, Sakai 590-0014 Osaka Prefecture +81 72-222-5533 http://mucha.sakai-bunshin.com/
Excellent
44%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 45 reviews

Alphonse Mucha Museum

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