Kyoto: MIHO Museum & Shigaraki Ceramics Private Car Tour

Two Museums, 1,200 Years of Pottery, One Day from Kyoto

You're picked up from your Kyoto hotel and driven to the MIHO Museum, where a licensed guide walks you through 3,000 pieces of Japanese and Silk Road art in a building half-buried in a mountainside. After that, the same car takes you to Shigaraki to explore the Ceramic Cultural Centre, walk the pottery-lined Sansaku Street, and see the tanuki-themed shops at Tanuki Mura. Entry fees and transport are included; the itinerary adjusts for weather or other changes.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Travel from Kyoto by private car
• Explore Miho Museum artworks
• Visit Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Centre
• Walk Shigaraki Sansaku Street
• Discover Tanuki Mura attraction

The Experience

The MIHO Museum rises out of a mountainside near Kyoto, designed by I.M. Pei with 80 percent of the building buried underground—a deliberate choice that lets the architecture disappear into the landscape. You walk across a suspended bridge, enter through a glass tunnel, and suddenly you're standing in front of Japanese antiquities and Silk Road artifacts, roughly 3,000 pieces arranged in galleries that feel less like a museum and more like a private collection someone trusted you with. A nationally licensed guide meets you at your hotel in Kyoto and drives you there in a private car, which means no coordinating trains or figuring out which bus goes where. The museum alone could fill a day, but this tour keeps moving.

After the MIHO, the drive takes you to Shigaraki, a pottery town about an hour away, where ceramics have been made for over 1,200 years. The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Centre sits in the middle of it—a place that explains the kilns, the clay, the techniques, and why this region matters in Japanese craft history. Then you walk the Sansaku Walking Street, a narrow area lined with pottery shops and traditional buildings where you can actually buy pieces directly from makers, not through a museum gift shop. The whole thing has the feeling of a working town that happens to be famous, not a tourist attraction pretending to be a town.

Tanuki Mura comes next—a collection of shops and small galleries celebrating the tanuki, a shape-shifting creature from Japanese folklore, rendered in ceramic form in about a thousand playful variations. It's the kind of place that makes no sense until you're there, and then it makes complete sense. Your guide handles the route, timing, and context; you just move through it. The private car waits, so there's no clock-watching or missed connections. Hotel pickup means you start from your accommodation in Kyoto, and the driver brings you back when the day ends.

What’s included

• National licensed guide who meets you at your hotel.
• private car and driver for the full day.
• admission fees to the MIHO Museum and Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Centre.
• hotel pickup and return to Kyoto.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by MY Travel Consulting

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see two major art and craft sites in one day without arranging transport, entry tickets, or timing yourself—the private car and guide remove all the logistics, so you focus on the museums and the pottery town.

Top questions

How long is the full day trip from Kyoto?

The itinerary spans a full day, though exact duration depends on how long you spend at each site. Hotel pickup and return are included.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not listed in the inclusions. You'll have time to eat in Shigaraki, where there are local restaurants and cafes.

Can I buy pottery at Shigaraki?

Yes. The Sansaku Walking Street and shops around Tanuki Mura sell ceramics directly, and your guide can help you navigate the options.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

The tour operator can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free requirements if you note them when booking.

Is the MIHO Museum difficult to walk through?

The museum involves walking across a bridge and through galleries. Moderate physical fitness is recommended. Strollers and infant seats are available if needed.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The itinerary may be adjusted due to weather or other reasons. Your guide will confirm any changes on the day.

Do I need to speak Japanese?

No. Your guide is nationally licensed and speaks English (or your booked language), so all explanations and logistics are handled for you.