What other travelers are saying about Kyoto International Manga Museum
The Kyoto International Manga Museum is a cozy, unique stop for manga lovers. They have a huge collection, including manga in many languages (English, Korean, Polish, Italian, Russian, etc.). I especially enjoyed reading Yotsuba&! in English—it made me laugh out loud after a long time.
When I visited, there were exhibitions on WWII/Okinawan comics and a cheerful, retro art showcase by Tamura Setsuko. The exhibitions included English explanations, though the museum could use clearer maps and signs to help visitors find things (especially the foreign language manga).
The atmosphere is quiet and relaxing—great for a rainy day. You can watch manga artists drawing live, try sketching yourself, or just pick a book and read. There was also a performer showing comic panels to the crowd, which was fun and interactive.
Overall, it’s not a huge museum, but it’s a special experience for anyone who loves manga.
More about Kyoto International Manga Museum from our blog
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the museum frequently hosts special exhibitions focusing on various aspects of manga culture, including retrospectives of famous manga artists, thematic exhibitions on genres, and displays featuring international comics.
The museum is located in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, near Karasuma-Oike Station. It's housed in a renovated historic elementary school building.
Visitors can explore a vast collection of over 300,000 manga items, read almost any manga in the museum's Wall of Manga, view exhibitions on manga history and culture, attend workshops, and participate in events like manga drawing classes and artist talks.
Yes, there is an entrance fee. The general admission fee is around 800 yen for adults, with discounts available for students, children, and seniors.
The museum is typically open from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM, with last admission at 5:30 PM. However, hours can vary, and the museum is usually closed on Wednesdays.
Not really a Manga fan, but this place impressed me a lot. It's an old primarily school building and has some pretty interesting exposition on the history of the place itself. It greatly adds to the experience when you let it sink in and imagine the kids running in these halls not so long ago. There is also a quite interesting English exposition on the history of manga and the process of making it. Most of the library (nearly all but the entrance room) is in japanese, but it still fun to wander through the shelves, look at the pictures, compare the styles and how they evolved over time.
Was awesome to see the history of not only Manga in other cultures. But the history of the school in which the museum now resides. The store was on the pricey side but otherwise awesome experience.
I am not an expert of manga but I was curious if this museum. It was a great experience. It contains mangas from early 1900s mostly from Japan (but also a small international collection). People can consult all books (the museum is well equipped with chairs and spot where to sit). There are also entertainments for kids 3 times a day.
About 6 euros/dollars per person. The price is worth the visit. Plan easily 2-3 hours even if you are not an expert, more if you are!
3/5
They have limited international language mangas on the first floor near the entry way. Not a big selection. Would be a 5/5 if you know kanji.
They also have a self portrait station near that area aswell for 3,000 yen (might be wrong) price can vary depending on how many people are depicted.
Near the entry way they have a shop that sells manga artist equipment and manga stuff. YOU DONT NEED A TICKET TO ENTER TO SHOP.
They also have a show room for children based on old manga tradition (be sure to arrive early as showings are near morning and early afternoon).
All in all, I would say about 1 hour to 2 hours experience. If you sit down to read something maybe longer. Great place to maybe end your shopping spree (take a break) near the Pokemon Center and Kawaramachi area.
