Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2025

Your front-row seat to Japan’s pop culture.

Japan's pop culture crown jewel is returning: the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair (KYOMAF) 2025 is scheduled for September 20–21, 2025. As the largest manga and anime event in western Japan, it is more than just a convention; it is a cultural festival that combines art, fandom, and collaboration. This year promises exciting new collaborative visuals, special displays, and an engaging experience for both tourists and residents.

What Is Going On In Kyoto This September?

The Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2025 returns this autumn for a two-day celebration of manga and anime. This festival, held in Kyoto's famous venues, celebrates the originality and global influence of Japan's most treasured art genres.

Expect special collaboration visuals, industry talks, cosplay demonstrations, limited-edition merchandise, and numerous opportunities to interact with fans from all around the world. Kyoto transforms into a colorful, imaginative, and nostalgic playground, with unexpected surprises around every corner, ranging from life-sized character displays to themed cafés.

KYOMAF Highlights And Features

• Exclusive Collaborations: Special visual collaborations between famous manga/anime titles and Kyoto landmarks, creating Insta-worthy art you won’t find anywhere else.
  

• Industry Access: Panels and sessions featuring publishers, studios, and creators, offering fans a rare behind-the-scenes look.
  

• Cosplay Heaven: Cosplayers will bring beloved characters to life against Kyoto’s scenic backdrops, from traditional streets to modern exhibition halls.
  

• Merchandise Galore: From limited-edition manga goods to themed snacks, the shopping experience is as much an attraction as the exhibits themselves.

Why Kyoto?

Kyoto, long celebrated as Japan’s cultural capital, provides the perfect backdrop for an event like Kyomaf. With its centuries-old temples, traditional tea houses, and quiet gardens, the city embodies the spirit of Japanese heritage. Hosting a major manga and anime fair here highlights the natural connection between storytelling traditions of the past and the dynamic, globally influential pop culture of today. It’s a place where visitors can walk from a historic shrine into a bustling convention hall, experiencing both the timeless and the cutting-edge in a single day.

What makes Kyoto especially fitting is how it bridges tradition and innovation. The city’s respect for history doesn’t hold it back from embracing modern creativity, instead, it creates a stage where the kimono-clad past meets futuristic fandom. Kyomaf captures that duality, offering fans a chance not only to celebrate anime and manga but also to explore the deeper cultural context that shapes them. For travelers, it’s an invitation to see Japanese pop culture as part of a larger cultural journey, unique to Kyoto.

Why This News Matters for Travelers

If you’re visiting Japan in September 2025, the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair (Kyomaf) deserves a spot on your itinerary. As the largest manga and anime convention in western Japan, it offers a once-a-year chance to dive headfirst into the world of manga, anime, and gaming. You’ll find exclusive previews, themed exhibitions, limited-edition merchandise, and opportunities to meet artists and industry professionals, experiences that go far beyond what you can find in stores.

The larger tourism trend

Japan is increasingly embracing experiential travel, where visitors want to live the culture rather than just shop for souvenirs. Instead of only buying manga or anime figures, fans now seek interactive experiences: cosplay events, voice actor panels, themed food and drinks, and workshops. Kyomaf embodies this shift by combining pop culture with tourism, drawing people to Kyoto beyond the fair: for the city’s neighborhoods, historic sites, and unique cultural backdrop.

What it means for travelers

• Extended stays – Many visitors plan multiple days around Kyomaf, boosting the appeal of Kyoto as both a cultural and entertainment hub.

• Deeper connections – Meeting creators, attending panels, and interacting with Japanese fans create memories you can’t replicate online.

• Accessible pop culture – Even if you’re not a die-hard fan, the event is beginner-friendly, offering a fun entry point into Japan’s creative industries.

In short, whether you’re a long-time manga enthusiast or just curious about Japanese pop culture, Kyomaf transforms a trip into a richer, more immersive experience, one that blends tradition, creativity, and tourism in a uniquely Kyoto way.

What Comes Next

Add the event details to your calendar:

• Dates: September 20–21, 2025
  

• Location: Kyoto (multiple venues across the city)
  

How To Attend

• Tickets typically sell fast, and for 2025 demand is expected to be high. Online pre-sales will offer standard day passes, premium packages, and possibly early-access passes. If you’re serious about attending, set a reminder. This isn’t the event to ‘maybe’ book later.

• Dress the part: Cosplay is encouraged. Even if you’re not competing, a simple nod to your favorite character makes the experience more immersive.

• Use Kyoto as your stage: Explore Nishiki Market (pictured above), Fushimi Inari Shrine, or Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (pictured below) between events. The city itself feels like an extension of the fair.

Travel And Access

• Getting to Kyoto: The city is easily accessible via Japan’s famous shinkansen. A JR Pass will get you from Tokyo or Osaka directly to Kyoto Station with ease.
  

• Hotels: With thousands of fans flocking to the city, nearby hotels will fill up quickly, so lock in your stay early. Choose accommodations near Kyoto Station for convenience, or stay in a traditional ryokan for added cultural flair.
  

• Connectivity: Trust me, you’ll want strong Wi-Fi. Between sharing cosplay photos, live-streaming panels, and navigating Kyoto’s venues, a Pocket Wi-Fi is as essential as your camera.

What To Expect Next

Beyond this year’s collaborations and events, the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair (Kyomaf) is poised to keep growing in both scale and influence. Organizers have hinted at expanding partnerships with major publishers, inviting more international studios, and developing stronger ties with Kyoto’s tourism sector. This means visitors can expect bigger exhibition halls and more exclusive content, besides richer cultural programming that blends pop culture with Kyoto’s unique heritage.

Future editions are also likely to feature:

• More foreign partnerships – creating opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and global debuts of anime and manga projects.

• Tourism tie-ins – such as themed city tours, hotel packages, and collaborative events that encourage visitors to explore Kyoto beyond the convention.

• Industry access – from panel talks with leading creators to sneak previews of upcoming releases, giving fans a closer look at Japan’s creative pipeline.

• Interactive experiences – cosplay competitions, live performances, workshops, and pop-up stores that make the fair more immersive each year.

FAQs about KYOMAF

Q: When is the Kyoto International Manga and Anime Fair 2025?

A: It will take place on September 20 and 21, 2025, at several venues in Kyoto.

Q: Is it the biggest anime event in Japan?

A: It is the largest manga and anime convention in western Japan, while Tokyo events such as AnimeJapan may be larger overall.

Q: Do I need to buy tickets in advance?

A: Yes. Online reservations are strongly recommended due to high demand.

Q: How do I get there?

A: TheJR Pass makes traveling to Kyoto easy from anywhere in Japan. Once in the city, local transit and walking will take you between venues.