In a nature-rich part of Soja City stands an old traditional house. Inside is a special space filled with the happy voices and smiles of children and their parents.
Opened in April 2024, “Play and Toy Research Institute Art Art” is a play space where children can enjoy toys carefully selected by its director to nurture creativity.
We visited to find out what inspired its creation.
The information provided was current when this article was published in September 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
A gathering place born from a love for children
“Art Art” is a learning and play facility established by its director, Ruppin (her nickname at the facility), a mother of two.
Ruppin worked as a civil servant, commuting from Soja City to Okayama City, while her children spent their days at daycare from morning until evening. She says that as she commuted, she began to feel that she wanted to spend more time with her children.
She also decided to open the facility because she hoped that “we could raise our children together, since there aren’t many children of the same age living near my home.”
After leaving her job at city hall to open the facility, she had more time to spend with her children. They also seem to play at “Art Art” with friends and other visitors.
What you can do at “Art Art”
“Art Art,” created from these aspirations, offers the following services.
- Art Art Play Space
- Carefully selected, body-friendly cafe menu
- Toy rentals and sales
- “Art College,” a place for adults and children to learn
Many visitors say they learned about the facility through its main information channel, Instagram. About 70% come from Okayama City and Kurashiki City.
Visitors range in age from infants to preschoolers. On weekdays, most are children aged 0 to 2. On weekends and holidays, kindergarten and daycare children join them, creating a lively atmosphere.
Art Art Play Space
The biggest feature of “Art Art” is its selection of carefully chosen wooden toys made overseas.
It offers toys bearing Germany’s “Spiel gut” seal of approval, as well as toys that meet Spiel gut’s standards.
With toys that let children use their imaginations to create their own play, each visit is likely to bring new discoveries and learning.
The director’s top pick is “7Moons,” a doll-shaped toy by Grapat (Spain).
Because the head can be removed, children can play by grabbing it and putting it inside things.
As they get older, they can use it as a cup in pretend play, or play with it as an instrument, building blocks, or even bowling pins. It is a versatile toy that offers many ways to play as children grow.
Carefully selected, body-friendly cafe menu
Cafe items are also available, and there is an outdoor area where visitors can enjoy them.
The snack sets are chosen based on the criteria of “letting you enjoy the natural flavor of the ingredients and providing nutritional value,” making them a healthy treat for the body.
The healthy snack sets include shiitake mushroom chips, gluten-free rice bran cookies, and bonito chips that even children who dislike fish can eat.
“Even children who don’t like shiitake mushrooms happily eat the shiitake chips,” she said.
Toy rentals and sales
At “Art Art,” visitors can not only enjoy the play space but also rent toys.
This is a perfect service for anyone who wants to try out a particular toy or give a toy that’s popular on social media a go.
You can choose any toy you like from the facility’s collection and rent it by the week.
Popular toys such as Grapat and Bauspiel are also available for purchase. You can choose them in person or place an order, so even people who live far away can use the service.
If you buy a toy at “Art Art,” you can take it home that same day and start playing with it right away.
“Art College,” a place for adults and children to learn
“Art College,” launched in response to requests from visitors, is a place where parents raising children and possessing specialized skills teach those skills to one another.
It offers a variety of programs, including an English cafe, postpartum body conditioning, a course on children’s play environments, and a picture-book read-aloud course.
Childcare is also provided during courses for parents, creating an opportunity for adults to relax together for the first time in a while.
We spoke with the director, Ruppin, about “Art Art,” which focuses not only on play but also on learning.
Play and Toy Research Institute Art Art details
| Name | Play and Toy Research Institute Art Art |
|---|---|
| Address | 2145 Yamada, Soja City |
| Contact | 090-1273-6150 |
| Parking | Available First parking lot: 4 spaces Second parking lot: 4–5 spaces |
| Opening hours | Weekdays: 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Thursdays and irregular days Check Instagram for detailed opening dates. |
| Admission (tax included) | 1,000 yen per group (includes one drink) |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Available Reservations required |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare facilities | Nursing room, diaper-changing table Disposable diapers, diaper-changing table, and nursing room available |
| Website | Play and Toy Research Institute Art Art |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a word to search articles on this site
