Kurayoshi Museum, Figure museum in Kurayoshi, Japan
The Kurayoshi Museum occupies a distinctive 1955 school building and displays more than 2000 miniature figures including dinosaurs, animals, and characters from manga and anime. The collection spans many collecting interests and fills the unusual spaces of this historic structure.
The building was constructed in 1955 as a school with fan-shaped classrooms and faced demolition decades later. Local residents campaigned to save the structure, leading to its transformation into a museum.
The collection reflects how this region became known for miniature figure craftsmanship and character collecting, reflecting interests shared by visitors across generations. These objects show how popular characters have become part of daily cultural life in communities like this one.
The museum is open daily and visitors can explore the building at their own pace. Displays are spread across multiple levels and rooms of the former school, so it helps to allow extra time to discover all areas.
Visitors can create their own food sample models in a dedicated area and photograph their creations. This hands-on experience offers a peek into a specialized Japanese craft that most travelers do not expect to encounter in a museum.
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