Museum with more than 300.000 manga works on shelves accessible to the public; adult admission ~900 ¥.
The Kyoto International Manga Museum is a place unique in the world: a former primary school converted into a museum and living library dedicated to Japanese manga, with more than 300.000 works available for free browsing. Unlike conventional museums, here you can take any volume off the shelves and read it comfortably on the sofas, the tatami floor or the courtyard garden. The collection includes modern Japanese manga, works from the Meiji era and titles in several languages. Daily kamishibai sessions (narrated paper theatre) are held, perfect even without understanding Japanese. Admission costs 900 ¥ for adults and 400 ¥ for children. It opens from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Wednesdays. It is in the centre of Kyoto, a few minutes from the Karasuma-Oike subway station. It is an ideal plan for rainy days or as a cultural break between temples. The shop sells exclusive manga items and books hard to find elsewhere.
