Entree Kibbles: Surroundings of the National Taiwan Museum of Comics (國家漫畫博物館) @ Taichung City in Taiwan

Friday, March 06, 2026

Surroundings of the National Taiwan Museum of Comics (國家漫畫博物館) @ Taichung City in Taiwan

While looking at Google Maps for attractions near our accommodation at Taichung City, Tea Way Hotel, I chanced upon an interesting place; National Taiwan Museum of Comics (國家漫畫博物館).

Now, I am not much of a museum lover although I do love comics books in my teen years and my grasp of traditional Chinese characters actually came from comic books printed in Taiwan. Hence, I decided to check out the place during my morning jog!

What appeared in front of me was more like a cluster of Japanese buildings but it might surprise you that the museum was constructed on prison grounds hailing from the year 1937!

My intention was only to show you the surroundings of this open concept museum, with 20 buildings (one 1 is new), that has no admission tickets! Surroundings only because my jog was at 8am; way before the operating hours at 10am!

Good thing for me as it was so quiet and peaceful and I literally have the whole museum grounds to myself. It was kind of weird though; don't Taichung people exercise in the morning? Or it is more an evening thing?

The grounds were so nicely manicured; you would have thought the buildings were all newly built. Comprising an area stretching 90 meters by 200 meters, the only thing lacking might just be people dressed in traditional Japanese attire to bring me back to the 1930s.

Given that Taiwan was colonized by the Japan for 50 years, culture and even building architecture were somewhat affected, and I am just glad that Taiwan decided to keep these buildings, rather than demolishing them to remove any traces of colonization, deemed to be shameful in some countries.

I am not an artsy person and don't really get this.

Does it mean the land shall be open for all?

Looking more like a temple, I understand it was the Budokan Martial Arts Hall, which was "used by prison officials for martial arts training, including swordsmanship and judo".

How I know? The information pillar above.

Themed activities.

p.s. this was in 2025.

Okay, I am not exactly alone with a group of elderlies exercising using the tai-chi technique. Anyway, I am not too far off from taichi exercises; someone just reminded me I am reaching my give five zero soon!

The majestic trees and bamboos; while nice for an outsider, I always feel that it can be quite eerie to have trees towering over the house, especially when night falls. Coming from a person who has lived in the village, I had to admit urban life is totally for me.

OMG, this reminded me of those traditional Japanese dwellings in mangas! Imagine seeing characters of crayon shin chan and doraemon sitting / standing on the wooden patios.

This had an outlook of a prison; dull, without many windows.

p.s. it's actually the information center.

Remnants of a gate, with even a letter slot, that used to contain a house? Even though this is the National Taiwan Museum of Comics, I thought it would be nice to touch on the history, and maybe even before and after pictures for comparison.

Spot the cats! These elements actually liven up the museum concept, and could appeal to visitors who accompany friends to the museum, yet not entirely interested in comics.

They could also take pictures with these silhouettes of warring parties. From the wordings on them, it appeared that comic companies are the main sponsors, likely in the likeness of characters in comic books published by them.

A scene from the comic, Ichthyophobia (怕魚的男人).

Author: Li Lung-chieh (李隆杰).

While the museum concentrates on Taiwanese comics, I would recommend this place for those who are keen to immerse themselves in Japanese buildings built almost a hundred years ago, and enjoy the chillax environment. Of course, visiting in winter is definitely an advantage.

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