Is there an entrance fee?

No. Admission is free, though donations are warmly welcomed and help maintain the collection and grounds.

How do I get there from central Ubud?

The museum is in Kemenuh village, about 15 minutes south of Ubud by car or scooter. It is signposted off the main road. A private driver or Grab is the easiest option.

Are there live puppet shows?

Occasional live wayang performances are held, but they are not scheduled daily. Check the museum's website or ask locally for upcoming performance dates.

Bali

All Experiences

Setia Darma House of Mask & Puppets

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Bali: Setia Darma House of Mask & Puppets

4.7(800)

1–2 hours

Mas, Sukawati

Wheelchair Accessibility:

Yes

Operating Hours:Monday - Sunday: 08:00 - 16:00

The Vibe:Seven ancient houses, a thousand carved faces 🎭

Set on over a hectare of grounds near Ubud's Mas village, this self-funded museum preserves more than 1,300 masks and 5,700 puppets from across Indonesia and the world, displayed in seven restored Javanese wooden houses.
Teak-scented joglo houses creak gently as you step inside to find rows of painted faces staring back — fierce Barong masks, delicate wayang puppets, and tribal carvings from far-flung islands, all bathed in soft gallery light.

• Praised by Lonely Planet as one of the best museums in the Ubud area
• Visitors consistently call it a hidden gem and must-see for culture lovers
• Free admission with donations welcomed — a rare find in Bali
• High ratings for the passionate and knowledgeable staff

Fit For

🎓 Culture Enthusiasts: The most comprehensive mask and puppet collection in Southeast Asia — an essential visit for anyone interested in Indonesian performing arts.
👨‍👩‍👧 Families: Children are fascinated by the expressive masks and shadow puppets; occasional live wayang performances add magic.
🎨 Art Lovers: Intricate craftsmanship on display, from cured-leather shadow puppets to hand-carved ceremonial masks.
📸 Photographers: Atmospheric joglo interiors, detailed mask close-ups, and a lush tropical garden setting.

Highlights

Wayang Kulit Shadow Puppets — Thousands of delicately cut leather puppets used in traditional Javanese and Balinese performances.
Barong Landung Puppets — Giant ceremonial figures used in Balinese temple rituals, among the most striking items in the collection.
Joglo Architecture — Seven century-old Javanese wooden houses, each restored and named for its origin, serve as gallery spaces.
International Mask Collection — Masks from China, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Sri Lanka, and across Africa add global context.
Live Wayang Performances — Occasional shadow-puppet shows by a dalang (puppet master), complete with gamelan accompaniment — Hidden Gem.

1 Booking Option

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Private Tour of Ubud Art Village from Bali

Partial Refund on Cancellation

Private day tour visiting Ubud's art villages including the Setia Darma collection.
Covers multiple cultural stops — wood-carving, painting, and traditional crafts villages.
Includes hotel pick-up and drop-off from wider Bali areas.
A comprehensive cultural day with knowledgeable guide commentary.

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Plan Your Visit

Things To Do Nearby

Mas Village Wood-Carving Studios — The surrounding village of Mas is famous for its master woodcarvers; visit workshops to see artisans at work.

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) — A 9th-century archaeological site with rock carvings and bathing pools, about 10 minutes by car.

Kemenuh Butterfly Park — A small butterfly garden close by, a light add-on for families.

Mas Village Wood-Carving Studios — The surrounding village of Mas is famous for its master woodcarvers; visit workshops to see artisans at work.

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) — A 9th-century archaeological site with rock carvings and bathing pools, about 10 minutes by car.

Kemenuh Butterfly Park — A small butterfly garden close by, a light add-on for families.

TJ's Guide - Setia Darma House of Mask & Puppets

Know Before You Go

Insider Tips

Best Time: Arrive at opening (8:00 AM) for a peaceful experience — the museum is rarely crowded at any time.

Hack: Ask for Adam or another staff guide at reception — their passion and knowledge about Indonesian dance traditions elevate the visit significantly.

Hidden Gem: The Joglo Pavilion Japan houses a unique collection of Japanese masks and puppets that most visitors overlook.

Hack: If you ride a scooter, combine the visit with nearby Goa Gajah and Mas village woodcarvers for a full culture morning.

Best Time: Arrive at opening (8:00 AM) for a peaceful experience — the museum is rarely crowded at any time.

Hack: Ask for Adam or another staff guide at reception — their passion and knowledge about Indonesian dance traditions elevate the visit significantly.

Hidden Gem: The Joglo Pavilion Japan houses a unique collection of Japanese masks and puppets that most visitors overlook.

Hack: If you ride a scooter, combine the visit with nearby Goa Gajah and Mas village woodcarvers for a full culture morning.

Know Your Facts

Getting There & Entrances

Amenities

Located on Jalan Tegal Bingin in Kemenuh, Sukawati — about 2 km northeast of the main Mas crossroads.
Free parking on-site for cars and motorbikes. Signage from the main road is adequate.
By taxi/Grab from Ubud centre: approximately 15 minutes and IDR 50,000–80,000.
First-time tip: The entrance is unassuming — look for the joglo rooflines set back from the road.

Once You Reach

Internal Navigation

Layout: Seven joglo buildings spread across a hectare of tropical garden. Each house is self-contained with a specific collection theme.

Joglo Route: Move from wayang kulit (shadow puppets) → wayang golek (wooden puppets) → ceremonial masks → international masks → special collections.

Signage: Each display has English-language description cards. Staff guides are available on request for more in-depth commentary.

Wheelchair/Stroller: Garden paths are mostly flat; some joglo entrances have low thresholds that may need assistance.

Time Tip: A thorough visit takes 1.5–2 hours. The collection is large, so pace yourself.

Food & Coffee Shops

On-site Coffee Shop: Basic drinks and snacks available in a traditional Balinese garden setting.

Mas Village Warungs: Several local restaurants in nearby Mas village for a post-visit meal.

Photography Tips

Photography is freely permitted throughout. Low-light interiors benefit from a wide-aperture lens or phone night mode.

Best compositions: Individual mask close-ups with the wooden joglo walls as backdrop.

The garden courtyard between buildings offers lovely framing shots with traditional Balinese architecture.

Explore Deeper

Setia Darma is more than a museum — it is a personal mission by founder Hadi Santoyo to rescue Indonesia's rapidly disappearing performing-arts heritage, one mask and one puppet at a time, before modernisation erases them.

The collection encompasses over 7,000 items, including wayang kulit (leather shadow puppets), wayang golek (wooden rod puppets), and topeng (ceremonial dance masks).

Wayang kulit performances are recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

The joglo houses themselves are centuries-old Javanese wooden structures transported to Bali and meticulously restored on-site.

Masks on display include topeng used in sacred Balinese temple dances where performers are believed to channel ancestral spirits.

International items span from Chinese opera masks and Japanese Noh masks to African tribal carvings and Italian commedia dell'arte masks.

Did You Know?

Self-Funded Preservation — The entire museum is privately funded by its founder; free admission ensures the cultural heritage is accessible to everyone.

Barong Landung — The giant puppet figures on display are used in Balinese ceremonies to ward off evil and disease, standing over two metres tall.

Obama Puppet — The collection includes a contemporary shadow puppet crafted to resemble Barack Obama, created during the 2008 US presidential election.

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