Kyoto International Manga Museum

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.

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.