Kyoto International Manga Museum

Here is a museum dedicated to one of Japan’s most proud and intriguing national traditions. The popular literary genre of manga is explored and exhibited across several floors of the Kyoto International Manga Museum. With a store and café on-site, it is a relaxed and informative area. Tourists enjoy this attraction whether they eat lunch outside, learn to draw manga characters at a workshop or flick through the oldest manga magazine in the country.

Browse floors packed with manga books of all types and languages. The sheer quantity is overwhelming. Attend events at the museum, which often aim to promote manga on an international scale. Peruse the permanent displays, which include an introduction to manga and an exhibition of more than 100 Maiko illustrations. Visit any of the temporary exhibitions to make the most of what is available and learn about the artistic literary genre. Try your hand at drawing manga when there are workshops held. See Japan’s first ever manga magazine, Eshinbun Nipponchi, which dates back to 1874.

Head to the store by the building’s entrance for some exceptional souvenirs, including manga books, postcards, posters and food. Have a light meal at the café, where the walls are decorated with manga drawings by artists who have visited the museum. You can also eat outside on the lawn.

The site opened in 2006 and is run by the city and the Kyoto Seika University. The museum opens in the morning and shuts in the early evening. It is closed on Wednesdays and for several days at New Year’s. Admission fees vary depending on age and group size. Photography inside the museum is prohibited.

The museum is situated in the Nakagyo Ward in the north of the city. Parking is tricky. Take the subway to the Karasuma-Oike Station, which is very close. It is easy to get to the museum from Kyoto Station on the Karasuma Line. Buses run regularly to the area. Nearby, there are many temples, hotels and landmarks, including Heian Jogakuin University.