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The Kyoto International Manga Museum is jointly operated by the city of Kyoto and Kyoto Seika University, which was the first in Japan to establish a manga department. Opened in 2006, it is Japan's first comprehensive cultural facility dedicated to manga. The museum collects and preserves manga that has garnered global attention, conducting various exhibitions and activities based on the collection, preservation, public access, and cultural research of materials. It functions as both a museum and a library.
The Kyoto International Manga Museum houses over 300,000 manga materials, ranging from Edo period ukiyo-e, magazines from the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa eras, post-war rental comics, to contemporary popular works and international titles. Among these collections, approximately 50,000 volumes, primarily consisting of manga volumes published after the 1970s, are displayed on the "Wall of Manga" shelves located on the 1st to 3rd floors, available for free reading. Each floor is equipped with touchscreen query machines, making it easy to find the manga you want among the vast collection, which is very convenient.
The museum also frequently hosts talks or lectures by manga artists or researchers, live drawing sessions by manga artists, and cosplay exchange events, providing ways to enjoy the world of manga beyond just reading.
The main hall was converted from the former Ryoke Elementary School building from the early Showa period, and the campus features artificial turf to create an open space, giving the area a strong appeal. It includes a museum shop and a café, making it a perfect place to spend an entire day.
