How to Get Your Manga Portrait at the Kyoto Manga Museum

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One of the best souvenirs I brought home from Japan was a manga portrait of myself drawn by a manga artist at the Kyoto International Manga Museum.

How cool it was to watch the artist at work, capturing little details and turning me into my very own manga character.

If you love manga or anime, then you must visit the Kyoto International Manga Museum and sign up to get your own manga portrait.

It’s the most unique and interesting souvenir I’ve probably ever gotten while traveling. It’s currently sitting on a mini easel on my desk.

Here’s everything you should know about how to get your very own manga portrait in Japan.

About the Kyoto International Manga Museum

The Kyoto International Manga Museum opened in 2006, and it combines the functions of a museum and a library.

The ultimate goal of the museum is to revive manga, which would otherwise disappear, as a cultural asset and to create a place to protect it, according to the official Kyoto Manga Museum website.

The museum preserves approximately 300,000 manga materials, ranging from Edo period caricatures to current popular works. It also conducts research on manga culture and holds exhibitions and events.

The building utilizes the former Tatsuike Elementary School building, constructed in the early Showa period.

About 50,000 manga volumes are on view at the museum while the other 250,000 are stored in a basement library, viewable by reservation only.

How to Get Your Manga Portrait Drawn

Step 1: Arrive right when the museum opens. Having your manga portrait drawn is on a first come, first served basis. Arriving early is a must to get one of the limited spots on the day’s manga portrait list. While the museum opens at 10 a.m., the Portrait Corner doesn’t open until 11 a.m. On our day, manga portraits filled up by 1 p.m.

Step 2: Buy your ticket and head to the Portrait Corner. To sign up for a portrait, you’ll have to go directly to the Portrait Corner (after buying your ticket to enter the museum) and speak to one of the artists. The museum staff don’t manage the Portrait Corner. The location of the Portrait Corner is conveniently right near the museum entrance.

Step 3: Decide which artist you want to draw you. There are usually 1-2 artists working for the day (or sometimes none), so be sure to check the artist schedules ahead of time. On the day, each artist will have their own sign-up list, and you’ll have to ask for it. It helps to have a Japanese phrase memorized or to use Google Translate (or hand motions). The artist will most likely be in the process of drawing someone else, so be patient and respectful. For me, I chose the artist Kasumin because I really loved her style (girls’ manga style). See all artists.

Step 4: Write your name on the list. Write down your name, number of people that will be on your canvas (1-3), and the style you’d like. Artists will have their styles and past work showcased near their table.

Step 5: Wait for your turn. Most likely, you’ll have to wait an hour or several hours before it’s your turn. You are able to leave the museum and re-enter. But I’d also recommend touring the Kyoto Manga Museum while you wait. Be sure to return to the Portrait Corner on time.

Step 6: Sit for your portrait. It’s a little awkward to sit for a portrait, but it’s also really interesting to watch an artist work. The artist who drew our portraits was incredibly detailed and observant, noting down fingernail colors, necklaces, hand motions, and exact eye color.

Step 7: Choose a background. Your artist may ask you what background you’d like for your portrait. Options include a fall foliage scene, cherry blossom scene, nighttime scene, sunny day scene, etc. I chose a fall foliage scene.

Step 8: Check your name spelling. Your manga artist will write your name in Japanese characters on the portrait, so be sure to check the spelling. They’ll also stamp it with the day’s date, so you’ll always remember your time at the Kyoto Manga Museum.

Step 9: Pay at the end. Once your portrait is done, you’ll pay the artist directly. You can either pay with credit card or exact cash.

Step 10: Receive your finished portrait. The portraits are not drawn on paper but on a half-centimeter thick canvas sized 7-by-8.5 inches with a thin gold frame. Your manga portrait is also enclosed in a plastic wrap for safe keeping.

Decisions You’ll Have to Make

Choose your artist. Be sure to check artist schedules prior to your visit.

Choose your style of portrait. You can choose between two options, either the artist’s individual style or a manga style.

Choose how many people in your portrait (1-3). If you have 2-3 people in your group, you can either all be drawn on one canvas or you can have each person drawn on their own canvas (if there are enough time slots available).

Choose your outfits. You can ask to be drawn in a different outfit, such as a kimono or ninja outfit, for an additional cost. Or you can just be drawn in what you’re wearing. If the latter, be strategic about what you wear that day, and make sure it’s something you’ll want to be forever memorialized in.

Choose your background. Your artist may ask you what background you’d like for your portrait. Options include a fall foliage scene, cherry blossom scene, nighttime scene, sunny day scene, etc.

Time Commitment

How long will it take?

In general, the time that it takes for the manga artist to draw you will be as listed below.

• 1 person: About 30 minutes
• 2 people: About 40 minutes
• 3 people: About 50 minutes

However, it could take longer, and your time slot could get pushed back. For us, we waited about 15 minutes past our original time slot since the artist was still finishing up the previous drawing.

Cost

As of April 1, 2025, the cost to have your manga portrait drawn has increased to:

• 1 person: 3000 yen
• 2 people: 5000 yen (if drawn on same canvas)
• 3 people: 6000 yen (if drawn on same canvas)

This is in addition to museum entry costs (currently 1200 yen per person).

Additional fees:

• 1000 yen extra to draw manga portrait from a photograph (instead of in person)
• 500 yen extra per person to draw a different outfit (such as kimono or ninja outfit)

Other Things to Do at the Kyoto Manga Museum

What stood out to me in the Manga Museum is the sheer volume of manga.

I loved seeing so many different types of manga, especially the manga created by students of a local Kyoto university. I learned a lot in the “What Is Manga?” exhibit about the history and influence of manga.

Overall, it was inspiring to see how manga has influenced the world and how so many different artists are to thank for it.

That being said, I’d definitely recommend taking your time to peruse every floor of the Kyoto Manga Museum.

First floor:

• Manga Wall: A total of 50,000 manga volumes dating back to the 1970s are arranged on the shelves in the corridors on the first to third floors. The first floor features mainly Shonen (boys’) manga, shelved by author’s name in the order of the Japanese syllabary. The first floor also features multilingual translations of Japanese manga and around 5,000 overseas comics on display as well as a children’s reading room.
• Manga Studio, where you can watch professional manga artists create manga at special times.
• Maiko Illustrations, an exhibition featuring drawings of maiko by popular manga artists.
• Portrait Corner

Second floor:

• Manga Wall: Shojo (girls’) manga, shelved by author’s name in the order of the Japanese syllabary.
• “What Is Manga?” exhibition, which answers common questions about manga.
• Manga Artists Hands exhibition, which features over 100 plaster hand casts made from the hands of manga artists who have visited the museum.

Third floor:

• Manga Wall: Seinen (men’s) manga, shelved by author’s name in the order of the Japanese syllabary.

Basement:

• Reading room: About 250,000 manga items stored in the basement. Only open Friday and Sunday with reservations.

See full floor map of museum.

Is Visiting the Kyoto Manga Museum Worth It?

If you like manga and are interested in the history, process, and influence of manga, then you’ll find the Kyoto Manga Museum worth it.

The Kyoto Manga Museum is a special place for manga lovers and those who appreciate the art form.

I’ll also say that it’s worth it for those who, like me, may not have even read manga before. Perhaps you’re simply interested in and appreciative of this art form that is so central to Japanese culture. That was the case for me, and I came away from the museum a lot more knowledgeable, respecting the manga art form much more.

How Much Time to Spend at the Kyoto Manga Museum?

The time you spend at the museum depends on what portrait time slot you get and whether you decide to leave the museum and re-enter at a later time.

• Touring the museum: 1 hour
• Sitting for your portrait: 1 hour
• Waiting for your portrait: 1+ hours

Cute Treats to Try While You’re in This Area of Kyoto

If you do decide to leave the museum and re-enter at a later time, you’re in luck because there are some really cute cafes nearby.

These will also be nice treats for after visiting the Kyoto Manga Museum, if you’re fortunate enough to get an early time slot for your manga portrait.

• Kyo Karucha Cafe: Their specialty is cheesecake that looks like a wedge of cheese.
• (THISIS)SHIZEN: Their specialty is ice cream that looks like a bouquet of flowers.

Both are within walking distance of the Kyoto Manga Museum. (I walked to both after visiting.)

Kyo Karucha Cafe

As mentioned, the specialty of Kyo Karucha Cafe is cheesecake that looks like a wedge of cheese.

This cafe is popular, so expect a wait to go inside. You can either order to go or wait for a table upstairs. Note that if you order to go, it’s generally looked down upon in Japan to eat while walking. So be sure to have a place in mind to eat your cheesecake.

There are several different flavors, and it can vary based on availability for the day.

I got the matcha flavor and loved it. This cheesecake was well worth the wait! The photos look cute, but the food is actually good, too.

Each slice of cheesecake is about 550 yen.

Location: 51 Matsuyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0831, Japan
Cheesecake flavors: Matcha, strawberry, chocolate, raspberry, pineapple, original
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Wednesdays
Website: Instagram.com/karucha_cafe23

(THISIS)SHIZEN

The specialty of (THISIS)SHIZEN is ice cream that looks like a bouquet of flowers.

This ice cream shop is a super trendy and making its rounds on Instagram, but I didn’t really like the flavor at all.

The flowers are made of bean paste, and there’s vanilla ice cream within the cone. I’m all for trying new things, but why does it have to be so expensive?

Each flower cone costs 1750 yen, or about $12. $12?? This was the most expensive food item I purchased in Japan.

For that reason, I don’t recommend it personally, but I also hope everyone who’s interested will give it a try themselves.

if anything, it is a beautiful (and edible) work of art.

Location: 586-2 Sagarubanocho Aneyakoji, Karasumadori Nakagyo-ku Kyoto
Ice Cream/Bean Paste Flavors: Chocolate, strawberry, beets, butterfly pea, sweet potato, purple sweet potato, basic white beans
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Website: instagram.com/thisisshizen_thisisnature

Where to Stay in Kyoto

There are a lot of options of where to stay in Kyoto, and in the end I’m glad I chose not to stay in the super touristy areas.

Where I stayed: I stayed at the ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, which is actually nearby the Kyoto International Manga Museum, in a quiet neighborhood of Kyoto. It’s by a major subway station — Nijojo-mae Station — and right across the street from the beautiful Nijo Castle. The hotel is in the process of being renovated, and we were fortunate to be put in one of the newly remodeled rooms (you can request one, too).

Free shuttle service: ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto offers a free shuttle bus service to Kyoto Station. We used it almost every morning for day trips.

This is the most current shuttle bus schedule that matched the one I saw during my visit in November 2024. It may be different today, so call the hotel if the shuttle doesn’t appear. Some of the staff at this hotel also speak English.

Nearby restaurants: During our stay in Kyoto, we did three day trips, and because of this we often returned late. It was so nice to have a go-to ramen restaurant for dinner and to be staying in such a quiet, safe neighborhood. It’s a fond memory of heading into the warm ramen shop every night, leaving the rain outside, and slurping the best noodles we had in Japan.

• Ramen Fukuchian – Nijō-jō Castle: This corner ramen shop is open until 9 p.m. and it is so good. I also tried the famous Ichiran ramen while in Japan, and this ramen shop was way better. For vegetarians, they offer a vegetarian miso ramen!
• Colorado Masusan: Just steps away from the hotel is this cute cafe that serves the most delicious egg toast and matcha milk. I am now a huge fan of the thick Japanese toast, and I loved eating here every morning.
• 7-Eleven: We became obsessed with the smoothie machine at 7-Eleven, and we walked here often, morning and night, to make our daily smoothie.

How to save money: For Americans, I recommend applying for an IHG credit card to receive a sign-up offer that will cover several nights at the ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto hotel. That is what I did, and I was able to cover my entire stay with points.

What to Pack for Your Trip to Japan

Comfortable and convenient footwear

You’ll likely walk a lot while visiting Japan, so a good pair of walking shoes is a must. However, one additional recommendation is make sure your sneakers are slip-in.

Why wear slip-in sneakers?

Many traditional places in Japan require guests to remove shoes before entering. Shoes with a lot of laces are hard to get off. But slip-ins? A breeze.

• Slip-in sneakers — I wore this pair of slip-in sneakers from Skechers my entire trip to Japan, and it was so convenient! I didn’t even have to sit down to take off my shoes, like everyone else did. My shoes just slipped right off. I also felt comfortable in these shoes despite walking 20,000 steps every single day.
• Ankle socks — Be sure to wear ankle-covering socks with your shoes so you don’t get blisters with all that walking. I wore these Hanes ankle socks every day of my trip to Japan and didn’t get a single blister.

Favorite travel essentials

• I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
• I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized.
• I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
• I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
• For Americans, I recommend getting the Capital One Venture X credit card to relax and eat free food in select airport lounges. I’ve had my Capital One Venture X credit card for a few years now, and accessing airport lounges is my absolute favorite perk of the card. Every lounge is different, but most have a buffet available where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The annual fee of this card is high, but it evens out with the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles you get (on top of lounge access and free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)!

Other Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip to Japan

Day Trip to Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden from Kyoto or Osaka

Guide to Visiting Yoshikien Garden in Nara Japan

How to Plan a Day Trip to Mt Fuji from Tokyo

Guide to Visiting Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo Japan

Best Ryokan in Takayama Japan: Hanaougi Bettei Iiyama (Review + Comparison)

Guide to Visiting Hida Folk Village in Takayama Japan

Hida Folk Village vs Shirakawago: Which to Visit?