I’m a big fan of Kyoto International Manga Museum. Jointly administered by Seika University and the city of Kyoto,  it is clear that a lot of  consideration went into its layout and design. Here are some things to love about the museum:

*They have a massive manga collection you can browse and read at your leisure. And if your Japanese isn’t up to scratch, they have Japanese manga that have been translated into various foreign languages and some foreign comic books too. There are also lots of quiet spots in which to sit and read both inside and outside the building.

*There’s a lovely children’s library. In the middle of the floor is a kind of well with soft flooring that the kids can sprawl around in while they read. It’s just the sort of thing kids love to sit in. Clearly whoever designed it knew how a child’s mind works. I remember being quite moved when I first saw all the little chisellers lounging comfortably with their noses buried in their books…

*They have regular 紙芝居 (kamishibai) performances which continue throughout the day. Kamishibai is an old form of storytelling using illustrations in a wooden frame. There aren’t so many opportunities to see kamishibai performances these days, so the museum is doing a great service by preserving this cultural tradition.  And it’s fun too! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it when I went.
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