Amongst the more unique attractions, one of the top things to do in Kyoto is to visit the International Manga Museum, catered for fans of manga and those looking to gain insights into this fascinating form of storytelling.
Planning a Visit
The museum is centrally located, within walking distance from the Karasuma Oike Station which provides convenient subway links and accommodation providers like the Kyoto property of the Park Hotel Group. Those based in other parts of the city can reach this site via bus (#15, 51, 65) to Karasuma Oike. Tickets can be purchased online or at the onsite ticket vending machine though check the official website (https://kyotomm.jp/en/) for any updates on admission and opening hours.
The Collection
Within the museum, one will find an impressive collection of around 300,000 manga materials on display that visitors can go through. Not only do they include modern series (local and international), but there are also manga manuscripts, rental books from the post-war period, magazines from pre-war times and the end of the 19th century and Edo-period caricature woodblock prints too.
The Wall of Manga
Amongst the notable sights at the Kyoto International Manga Museum is its “Wall of Manga” which spans approximately 200 metres across the building and features about 50,000 publications dating from the 1970s. The books on this wall which are part of an open-access library system have been divided into different sections namely young adults (seinen), girls (shojo) and boys (shonen). You also get the Manga Hall of Fame and the Manga Expo which has translated manga from Japan and other countries as well.
Other Highlights
The museum features temporary exhibitions and permanent ones with the latter including an insightful look into “What is Manga?” and a display of 100 Maiko illustrations. The site also has workshops and programmes at the weekends; you could have your portrait drawn, watch a Japanese-style of traditional storytelling called “Kamishibai” and witness first-hand the creation of manga. There’s also a children’s library here catering to younger visitors making it an ideal place to visit with the family.
