Quyen Bui
Google
As someone who loves learning about culture, my visit to the Wayang Museum in Jakarta was both fun and educational. Located in the Old Town (Kota Tua), the museum is easy to find and housed in a charming colonial-style building.
Inside, I was amazed by the huge collection of wayang puppets. There were wayang kulit (shadow puppets), wayang golek (wooden puppets), and masks, each beautifully crafted.
What surprised me most was the variety—not just from Indonesia but also from other countries like Malaysia and India. It really showed how puppetry connects cultures.
The museum taught me a lot about the stories and traditions behind wayang performances, which are such an important part of Javanese and Balinese culture. Even though I don’t speak much Bahasa Indonesia, I could still enjoy the displays, but I wish there were more English descriptions for international visitors.
The museum wasn’t crowded when I went, which made it easy to take my time and admire the details of the puppets.
The entry fee was affordable, and I felt it was well worth it.
The building could use a little updating, and the lighting was a bit dim in some areas. But overall, I enjoyed the visit and would recommend it to anyone interested in art or culture.