The Kyoto Arashiyama Orgel Museum

Unclaimed

On the way to the pizza place that I've seen on TV, we saw this Orgel Museum in Arashiyama. I was not aware that mama used to have a collection of orgels. We went in and saw all these and more. There were about 200 or more including the very first orgel which was invented to fit in a pocket watch as an alarm. Since I always see orgels in horror films, it felt creepy inside the museum but the experience was so much fun. Anyway, we weren't able to eat in the pizza place because they don't accept dine in until May 31st.

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 museum visit.

Really friendly staff. Wish there were more options to make your music box -more themed items but maybe it’s because I came later in day and items sold out. Overall great experience

Awesome place. 10 minutes walks around, then you will see an "Event" in special room. Every time the host shows different "automata". Sometimes even shows (play) something from other halls.

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 20th century!