Symbolic image of reading a manga book
Symbolic image of reading a manga book

Kyoto International Manga Museum京都国際マンガミュージアム

The Kyoto International Manga Museum was established in 2003 through a collaborative effort between Kyoto City and Kyoto Seika University. This partnership has the following mission: to collect, preserve, and showcase a diverse array of manga materials, and to engage in research of manga culture.

The museum's collection houses an impressive assortment of manga materials, totaling around 300,000 items. These range from caricature woodblock prints dating back to the Edo period (18th century) to magazines from the latter half of the 19th century and the pre-war era. Additionally, the collection includes books that span from post-war rental publications to contemporary popular series and international releases.

The museum curates a mix of offerings, including temporary exhibitions, permanent displays, and an array of events such as international conferences, workshops, concerts, and film festivals. Up-to-date information on these events and exhibitions can always be found on the museum's official website.

Highlights

  • Permanent exhibitions

    The "What is Manga?" Permanent Corner elucidates the historical evolution and social importance of manga across various categories. The "Manga Artists' Hands" exhibit showcases a compilation of commemorative plaster casts, preserving the hand imprints of more than 100 artists who graced the Manga Museum for events. An assembly of over 100 manga artists' creations, the "Exhibition of 100 Maiko Illustrations" encapsulates their renditions of maiko figures.

  • "Wall of Manga"

    This collection revolves around a selection of roughly 50,000 publications from the 1970s. These materials are organized within an open access library system that extends over a distance of 200 meters throughout the building.

  • Workshops

    The museum holds various workshops related to manga.

  • Maeda Coffee

    Ever since its establishment in 1971, Maeda Coffee has garnered affection from Kyoto residents for over five decades. The Coffee Shop offers a diverse range of breakfast options, lunches, sweets, and collaborative menus tailored to the ongoing exhibitions at the Manga Museum shop. As you savor a rich cup of coffee, you can immerse yourself in the illustrations and autographs adorning the walls.

  • Portrait Corner

    Within this section of the museum, you have the chance to have your portrait created. You can choose between the artist's original approach or an anime-style rendition. There is a fee for ordering a portrait.

  • Kamishibai

    Regular presentations of "Kamishibai," a traditional Japanese narrative style accompanied by pictures, once a popular form of street entertainment, are held consistently at the museum. Please refer to the website for precise timings of these performances.

Opening Hours

10:30 - 17:30 / Closed on Wednesdays

Admission

Adults: 900 JPY

Children: Starting at 200 JPY

Address

Karasuma-Oike, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0846, Japan

Getting There

  • 2 minutes walk from Karasuma Oike Station (烏丸御池駅) ⎯ 2 Exit

Links

Related topics

At Hey Japan!, we strive to keep the places listed on our website as current as possible. However, it is important to note that location owners or management may make changes to their plans, including canceling events, altering opening times, or modifying admission requirements, without prior notice. To ensure that you have the most accurate information, we recommend checking official websites before visiting any location.

Last Updated: