Even when you’ve decided, “I’m going to Kyoto!”, planning the actual trip can be tricky, right? With so many great spots like temples, shrines, food streets, cafes, and museums, it’s hard to choose exactly where to go.

“Visiting classic tourist spots is fun, but I also want to relax in a calm place!” If that sounds like you, the Kyoto International Manga Museum is a great place to add to your list.

The museum has a huge collection of manga, and you can actually pick up and read some of them. Plus, it’s not just about reading! You can learn about the history of manga, watch a Kamishibai (picture card show), or get your portrait drawn.

Here are the highlights and the best ways to enjoy the Kyoto International Manga Museum based on my actual visit. Whether you’re a huge manga fan or a complete beginner, you’ll definitely lose track of time having fun here!

About 50,000 books on open shelves! First, find your favorites

The biggest feature of the Kyoto International Manga Museum is its massive manga collection. They hold about 300,000 items in total, and the “Wall of Manga”, where about 50,000 books are free to read, is a true masterpiece!

With manga lining the walls all the way to the ceiling, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a giant library. They have everything from shonen (boys) and shojo (girls) manga to seinen (youth) works, so all ages and tastes can enjoy it.

Of course, there is also a section called “Manga Expo” where mangas are translated into foreign languages, allowing you to read manga in various languages.

Read anywhere you like. Go outside on sunny days!

You can freely read the books you pick from the Wall of Manga anywhere in the building. Just like a library, you can sit on a chair and enjoy reading in peace. However, since you’re here, I highly recommend reading on the artificial grass outside!

When the weather is nice, the breeze blowing across the grass area in front of the building feels amazing. You can faintly hear the lively sounds of the city from Karasuma Street next door, creating a unique reading atmosphere you can’t find anywhere else.

Is it even better on a rainy day?!

Except for the grass area, the museum is indoors, so you don’t have to worry about rain. While a Kyoto trip often involves outdoor activities like visiting temples, a big plus of this museum is that the weather won’t ruin your plans. The building is air-conditioned, making it perfectly comfortable even in the hot summer.

Also, there are coin lockers right by the entrance. The number is limited, but you can drop off your heavy bags here before exploring the museum.

Check out the permanent corners

Enjoy nostalgic “MM Kamishibai”

The museum holds various events every day. On my visit, I checked out the “MM Kamishibai” (picture card show) corner. A professional Kamishibai storyteller performs without a microphone, and the show happens right in front of you. It’s super interactive and exciting!

Kamishibai was a common sight in Japanese parks during the Showa era. Of course, it has some modern twists so that everyone, regardless of age, can enjoy it. Don’t worry if you don’t understand Japanese! They use body language and simple English activities, too.

• Showtimes: 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM (on open days)
• Duration: About 30 minutes

Become a masterpiece! “Portrait Corner”

Another fun activity is the Portrait corner, where professional illustrators and manga artists draw your portrait in manga-style. You can chat with the artist while they create a one-of-a-kind drawing of you!

Since it’s a popular corner, watch out for the cutoff time. Reception starts at 10:00 AM on open days on a first-come, first-served basis. I planned to get mine drawn later, but all the spots for the day were already full!

• Duration: About 30 minutes (for one person)
• Price: Starting from 3,000 yen

A must-learn! The history of manga

Besides the Wall of Manga, there’s something else you should definitely see before you leave. Learning more about the manga we read every day is another great feature of this museum. On the second floor, there’s a permanent exhibition called “What’s Manga?”. Here, you can learn about manga—from its history to its characteristics as a media—while looking at actual works and books.

Additionally, there are special exhibitions held for limited times and corners displaying non-book materials (like original artworks and artists’ personal belongings). Until September 1, 2026, the special exhibition “Prescriptions of Essay Manga for My Hear” is running. Since the contents of special exhibitions change, it’s a good idea to check the official website for the latest info before your visit.

While reading your favorite works is obviously fun, taking the time to learn about manga culture is a unique charm of this museum. If you love manga, this exhibition area is a spot you really should take your time exploring.

Admire the architecture of a former elementary school

Please pay attention not only to the exhibits and books but also to the building itself! While exploring, you might feel a little puzzled. Even though it’s a “museum”, the layout doesn’t feel like one.

That’s because the Manga Museum uses the former building of Tatsuike Elementary School, which was closed down. Reusing an old school building as a new cultural facility instead of tearing it down is a very “Kyoto” thing to do. I think the interesting culture of Kyoto is shown not just in its traditional streets and temples, but also in how they use buildings like this one.

Let’s visit the Manga Museum!

The Kyoto International Manga Museum isn’t just a place to read lots of manga. It is a special spot for manga lovers packed with different ways to have fun:

• Open shelves with about 50,000 free-to-read books.
• Permanent exhibitions to learn about manga history.
• Hands-on corners like the Kamishibai and portrait drawings.
• A retro building that retains the traces of a historic elementary school.

You can experience both nostalgia and new discoveries at the same time, so you might end up staying much longer than planned! It’s close to Karasuma-Oike Station on the subway line, and you can stay comfortable even on rainy days, making it easy to fit into your travel itinerary. I highly recommend it for manga lovers and anyone looking to enjoy some relaxed sightseeing.

If you’re planning to visit Kyoto, please add the Kyoto International Manga Museum to your list. Your time spent surrounded by manga is sure to become an unforgettable memory!

Kyoto International Manga Museum