Although a museum might not be at the top of the list for any tour guide of what to do in Kyoto, Visiting the International Manga Museum should be a major priority.
This archival library holds over 50,000 volumes of manga ranging from the 1970s to the present and spanning over 656 feet of wall space. Cozy reading areas dedicated to the comfort of enjoying a good book can be found next to the shelves. Patrons get access to not only a gigantic library of titles to read from, but also workshops, in-person portraits by manga artists and memorable keepsakes.
Ticket Prices
Over 19 years old: ¥1,200 (USD $8.28)
13-18 years old: ¥400 (USD $2.76)
6-12 years old: ¥200 (USD $1.38)
Operating hours
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day of the week except Wednesdays and holidays.
The first floor holds most of the available activities within the building. Upon entering, the museum welcomes those into a small international library, where popular titles can be found in different languages, including but not limited to German, Spanish and English. Directly to the left is a permanent portrait space.
Different artists take rotations in the portrait corner, then visitors can commission the artists on a first come, first serve basis to get a unique drawing of themselves. The list of artists can be found on the museum’s website, along with their sample work, hours, and fees.
Temporary exhibitions are housed on the first floor as well, right next to a Manga Making space or MM Workshop. This area is used for group lessons and can be booked by groups of five or more for personalized workshops! These can include button or bookmark making, but the workshop recommended for aspiring manga artists is an inking lesson. Here groups can learn about the usage of dip pens in manga inking, getting hands-on learning with the risk of ruined sleeves and shirts due to ink spillage. Low risk and high reward, these workshops serve to introduce the process of making manga.
The second floor houses the largest room of the manga collection within the building. Despite each floor having its own hallways of manga, this room steals the prize with floor-to-ceiling shelves on all four walls, including an exhibition space describing the history and timeline of manga for visitors.
Just outside this room is the grandest museum contribution just second to the amount of books: a giant phoenix statue carved from traditional artifact techniques of Kyoto Buddhists with red pine wood. At 33 feet wide and about 15 feet tall, the magnificent structure is an homage to the traditions of the city of Kyoto and “Hi no Tori” (Bird of Fire), the life work of legendary manga artist Tezuka Osamu.
On the third floor, tucked away in safety, is the research reference room, where 50,000 books may be readily available to the public to read, but 250,000 manga and related works can be accessed through here and the online database. Patrons must still purchase a ticket, and a research appointment, but so many more titles open up to viewing once these steps are taken.
While the International Manga Museum may not hold the fast-paced excitement like the streets of Tokyo, it instead offers a calm and resetting space during your Kyoto stay. Sitting on a spacious lawn under the shade of a bright day with a small collection of handpicked manga by one’s side, let this museum visit fill lasting memories.
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