What this is
Kuniyoshi was the Edo period's great rule-breaker — a woodblock artist who smuggled Western perspective into traditional prints, hid political satire inside cat cartoons, and turned warrior epics into visual spectacles that still feel startlingly modern. This exhibition at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum brings together approximately 200 of his masterworks, organised into six thematic sections covering everything from fierce samurai prints and kabuki actor portraits to landscapes and his famously witty, pun-laden compositions. The breadth alone is the draw: few ukiyo-e artists worked across so many genres with such consistent inventiveness.
Who should go
Anyone with even a passing interest in Japanese art history will find this rewarding — Kuniyoshi's humor and visual wit make his work accessible even to visitors who don't usually seek out traditional art. Art lovers, history buffs, and design-minded travelers are the core audience.
Good to know
Advance tickets go on sale 10 April 2026 at 10:00 and can typically be purchased via eplus.jp, pia.jp, or Lawson Ticket — all three platforms accept foreign credit cards, and Lawson convenience store pickup is the most hassle-free option for visitors without a Japanese delivery address. The Kyoto City Kyocera Museum (also known as Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art) is a large, well-established venue with spacious galleries; major exhibitions here are seated-entry with timed or free-flow ticketing depending on demand, so arriving at opening time (usually 10:00) minimises queuing. Photography policies vary by exhibition — check signage at the entrance, as some ukiyo-e shows permit photography of select works without flash. The museum has a café and museum shop on site; the limited-edition Kyoto Yuzen handkerchief ticket (¥2,800, 1,000 only) is a worthwhile souvenir purchase if available when you book.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.