What to know
The Kitakyushu Manga Museum (北九州市漫画ミュージアム) delves into the history of manga (Japanese comics), highlighting artists with ties to Kitakyushu City. Among the most famous featured is Leiji Matsumoto, creator of iconic series like Space Battleship Yamato and Galaxy Express 999.
The museum spans the fifth and sixth floors of Aru-Aru City, a shopping complex dedicated to manga, anime, games, and idol merchandise. The permanent exhibition is on the sixth floor, while temporary exhibits are held on the fifth.
At the sixth-floor entrance, visitors are welcomed by a large mural and figure of Captain Harlock from Galaxy Express 999. The route then explores Matsumoto's life and work, offers insights into a manga artist's daily life and comic creation rules, and features a "Manga Time Tunnel" showcasing manga from as early as 1945. The tour ends at a comic library where guests can read any available title. Note that exhibits have limited or no English explanations.
The Kitakyushu Manga Museum is in Aru-Aru City, a short covered walk from Kokura Station's north exit.
How to get to and around Kitakyushu
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 11:00 to 19:00 (entry until 18:30)
- Closed
- Tuesdays (or following day if Tuesday is a national holiday)
- Admission
- 480 yen (~$3.07) (separate fees for temporary exhibitions)
- English name
- Kitakyushu Manga Museum
- Original name
- Kitakyushu Manga Museum
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.