Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto, Toy museum in Shimanto, Japan
Kaiyodo Hobby Museum is a toy museum in Shimanto housing thousands of items across different types and styles. The collection includes anime figurines, model kits, comics, and other playthings arranged throughout the building.
The museum opened in 2011 inside a converted elementary school gymnasium as part of efforts to revive the mountain area. Reusing the old school building helped bring activity and purpose back to the local community.
The museum shows how toy collecting and making became important parts of Japanese daily life. You can see how figurines and models are valued as art forms by people across generations.
The museum is accessible and welcoming to visitors of all ages spread across multiple levels. Plan enough time to walk through the collections and be prepared for signage in Japanese or English.
A separate Kappa Museum sits nearby with hundreds of artworks all themed around water goblins from Japanese folklore. This collection offers a fascinating dive into how a single mythical creature inspired so many different artists.
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