National Taiwan Museum of Comics Taichung Guide + Photos 2024

This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Opened in Taichung in December 2023, the National Taiwan Museum of Comics is one of Taiwan’s newest tourist attractions, with many more sections to open in 2024.

Chock full of comic-book attractions, archives and exhibitions, the entire site will continue to expand until it fully opens in 2029.

We visited the National Taiwan Museum of Comics in Taichung a couple of months after it opened and were amazed at how busy it was.

From children reading comic books in the libraries to families collecting the stamps across the site, it was one of the busiest attractions in Taichung City – it also felt very reminiscent of Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei.

National Taiwan Museum of Comics Taichung

It is such a cool Taiwan thing to do, that after visiting the comic book museum, we felt very ‘animated’ (sorry not sorry).

From the history of the site to the attractions and buildings that are currently open, here is the Taiwanderers guide to visiting the National Taiwan Museum of Comics plus photos:

You might like – Guide to Somebody Feel Phil Netflix Taipei filming and eating locations >

National Taiwan Museum of Comics – History of the site and transformation

Housed in the grounds of the former Taichung Prison (built in the 1930s), the Comic Book Museum in Taiwan was green-lit by the Taiwan Ministry of Culture several years ago, and formally opened in late December 2023 by the Culture Minister and Vice Premier.

Covering almost 3 hectares of the former prison, many of the historic buildings have been kept and transformed.

The grounds themselves are very beautiful too, including banyan trees and their elaborate roots, sprawling across the brickwork.

Even if you don’t like comic books or outdoor museums, the site itself is very pretty to explore with traditional food and drink restaurants.

For instance, when we visited on a sunny spring day in March 2024, Taichung’s cherry blossoms were out across the site and there were even large groups of watercolour artists and painters out, capturing the site on their easels.

National Taiwan Museum of Comics Taichung spring painters

The Museum incorporates several designated historical sites such as the Taichung Prison Warden’s Residence and Bathhouse used in the Japanese colonial period.

For instance in the bathhouse, there is now a giant cartoon giraffe sitting in the bath-tub!

In the future, there are plans to construct a new main building featuring more national comic book collections, research facilities and an animation cinema.

On our visit, there were around 15 buildings open including several restaurants, cafes and temporary exhibition spaces.

You might like – Guide to the Pokémon Center Taipei, Taiwan’s first official Pokémon Center >

How to find the National Taiwan Museum of Comics

The Taiwanese National Museum of Comics is a 20 minute walk from Taichung Station or a 16 minute walk from the local Wuquan Station

From Taichung HSR, the comic museum is 20 minute Uber Taxi ride, or 25 minutes by local bus or train. Bus 158 is the quickest bus to take (around 25 minutes door to door including a 5 minute walk at the end).

You might like – Pop Mart Ximending Taipei: Taiwan’s flagship store Guide + Photos >

How much is the National Taiwan Museum of Comics admission fee?

Amazingly, it is free to visit the National Taiwan Museum of Comics in Taichung – we’d rate it as one of the best free things to do in Taiwan, particularly if you love comic books and learning about the history of characters and artistry.

Try this – the best Taichung tours and day trips with Viator >

Arriving at the Comic Book Museum

The first thing you notice is the size of the museum – it isn’t just one building like your typical museum but instead spread across over a dozen historic buildings, set amongst a gorgeous courtyard complete with banyan trees and red brick walls.

As most of the sections between the buildings are outdoor, if it is raining or cloudy in Taichung, be sure to bring an umbrella otherwise you’ll get drenched walking between them.

Another tip is to wear shoes that are easy to slip off and on as many of the National Taiwan Museum of Comic exhibitions and rooms require you to take off your shoes and leave them at the front.

Be sure to visit the National Taiwan Museum of Comic Information office first as not only do they have free maps (available in English) but you can also collect the comic museum trail commemorative stamp booklet.

Take a trail map and collect stamps as you visit the various rooms – fun!

Most of the buildings are also air-conditioned so on a really hot day in Taichung, this is really appreciated.

stamp at National Taiwan Museum of Comics Taichung

You might like – Taiwanderers guide to getting to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung and other cities >

Taiwan National Comic Book Museum exhibitions and galleries.

At the time of writing (early 2024), there are 12 galleries and stores open, plus several food and drink cafes.

The galleries and shops at the Taiwan National Museum of Comics are:

The Magic Hour of T-Comics
Comic Book Library and Rental store (“33 Linsen Rd”
Art in Progress Gallery
Immersed in Comics Gallery
Manga Tide and Bugcat Capoo exhibition and cafe (alas we visited just before this opened so we have no pictures)
Name Shop and Library
From Comic to Animation in Telling Tent
Covers – Years of T-Comic (this seemed to be a popular place to take Instagrammable shots – lots of people posing in front of colourful racks of comics).
When Taiwanese Comics Become A Spectrum Gallery
Comic Photo Booth
Information office
The 14th Golden Comic Awards Exhibition

Love anime? Check out our guide to Taiwan’s only Ultraman themed 7-Eleven in Taipei >

Food and drink / cafes

You won’t go hungry at Taichung’s Comic Book Museum for Taiwan – there are several restaurants and cafes onsite including a vintage sweet-shop!

These food and drink venues include:

Jia Ramen restaurant – a casual noodle restaurant.

Jia Ramen restaurant National Taiwan Museum of Comics Taichung

Wu Tian / Wu Sweet Shop – vintage sweets, gelatos and ice-creams (the desserts have smiley faces so maybe they should be referred to as I-Screams!)

Bugcat Capoo Cafe – due to open in April / May 2024.

Hanami Japanese afternoon tea store – note this requires sitting on your knees in the traditional Japanese style.

Hanami Japanese afternoon tea store National Taiwan Museum of Comics Taichung

You might like – Simple Kaffa Sola cafe in Taipei 101 (the highest cafe in Taipei) >

Quirky graphics and vending machines

As you’d expect from an awesome animation and comic book museum, there are lots of cartoon illustrations and pop-up animations all over the site like cartoon cats on walls or alley-way artistry.

One of our favourite bits was the cartoon can vending machine, where each can had a different collectible comic book strip on the exterior. Beats a boba tea eh!

Try this – Day trip to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung >

Taiwan National Comic Book Museum – is it worth it?

Yes, it is absolutely worth visiting Taiwan’s National Comic Book Museum in Taichung.

Allow at least a couple of hours to fully explore the various buildings and exhibitions (and more if you want to read some comics in the library or enjoy a sit down meal at one of the various restaurants).

shop at National Taiwan Museum of Comics Taichung

Even if you aren’t a fan of Taiwanese comics (like us), the history of the site is fascinating and the grounds are beautiful – plus a Bugcat Capoo cafe and exhibition is now open.

Best of all, Taichung Comic Book Museum is free of charge!

BRAND NEW FOR 2024!
Join our Facebook Taiwan Travel Tips Group!
Need help with your Taiwan itinerary or have any questions? Head on over to our Facebook group and ask the experts!
Click here to join our group >

Other things to know

No flash photography is allowed
Shoes, prams, dogs and food and drink are forbidden in the indoor exhibition spaces.
Remember it is closed on a Tuesday!
Free toilets are available across the site
The museum grounds are flat and are wheelchair accessible.