Along the Kurashiki River, traditional townhouses stand with their impressive eaves stretching in a row.
This is the Japanese Folk Toy Museum. It is home to a collection of around 10,000 toys from across Japan, all on display.
Step inside the building, converted from a rice storehouse, and you are welcomed by an abundance of toys rich in local character.
At +1GALLERY (Plus One Gallery), located in the Side Terrace, you can see contemporary crafts.
Though from different eras, local toys and crafts made by people sit side by side in this space. I visited the Japanese Folk Toy Museum.
The information presented here was accurate when this article was published in July 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Local Toys Collected from Across Japan
The Japanese Folk Toy Museum opened in 1967.
The local toys on display were collected from collectors and toy makers across Japan by the current director, Kimiko Oga, and her father-in-law, the first director, Masanori Oga.
The local toys are displayed across two buildings.
Although each toy is entirely different, they all give off a gentle, nostalgic feeling.
Since April 2024, the museum has been renovated to give it a stronger thematic feel, including the installation of LED lighting throughout, a new arrangement of the exhibits, and the addition of captions (also available in English).
gallery1: A Hall of Colorful Local Papier-Mache Figures and Dolls
Local toys are toys that have been made in different parts of Japan since long ago, using local products and natural materials.
Some local toys take the form of handed-down legends and are made as lucky charms or for warding off misfortune. Others are modeled on familiar animals or connected with religious beliefs. All have been closely tied to people’s lives.
The front storehouse (gallery1), one of the two buildings at the Japanese Folk Toy Museum, displays masks and dolls collected from across Japan, arranged by region, with a focus on papier-mache figures.
Despite their different origins, the colors and expressions used in them feel somehow familiar.
I was born and raised in the Chugoku region.
When I stood in front of the exhibits from the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, my eyes were drawn to masks that brought to mind Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto and the monkey companion in the Momotaro legend.
The things we grow up hearing and seeing naturally bring their origins and stories to mind.
While I could sense a common thread among the exhibits, being able to recall their origins may be proof that local toys are rooted in everyday life.
gallery2–4: Daruma Dolls, Hina Dolls, Wooden Toys, and More
The storehouse at the back, beyond the courtyard, is the rice storehouse that houses galleries 2–4.
As soon as I stepped inside, I was greeted by even more local toys than in gallery1.
On the left as you enter the first space (gallery2), there is an area where local toys donated by collector Yoshimitsu Yoshinaga are displayed across an entire wall.
The sheer number of toys is astonishing. Looking at the local toys arranged by region, I had sensed their origins and stories, but here what struck me was the variety of local toys.
Some are smaller than the palm of your hand, no bigger than a fingertip, while others are large enough to hold with both hands.
Some may have been displayed and enjoyed on special occasions, while others may have been picked up from time to time to feel their texture or spoken to with a smile.
The second floor is gallery3.
It displays a variety of wooden toys, including battledores, spinning tops, and kokeshi dolls.
The exterior plaster walls were redone and the roof was replaced, so the ceiling boards were also renewed, making the space brighter.
The layout was also changed as part of the April 2024 renovation to bring out the feel of the earthen walls.
The giant spinning top made by the former director, which I had wanted to see, was on display here.
I don’t know much about spinning tops, but I found myself wondering what it must have been like to make one out of wood, 90 centimeters in diameter, when balance is so important.
gallery4 Has Plenty of Instagram-Worthy Spots
Finally, I went into gallery4.
Hina dolls are displayed to the right of the entrance, and Tenjin-sama dolls to the left.
The exhibits are not limited to the walls.
The highlight of this space is being able to look up at the ceiling and enjoy the displays.
The large kite displayed high up, making use of the rice storehouse’s tall ceiling, looks as if it is soaring through the sky right now.
It reminded me of flying kites as a child, sending them higher and farther away until they looked tiny. Perhaps being able to look up and enjoy the kite brought back those fond memories.
Looking up at the giant kite, then turning around, you’ll see masks lined up in rows.
There were masks of tengu and demons, among others, but strangely, they weren’t frightening. The masks at the Japanese Folk Toy Museum even give you a sense of comfort, as if they’re watching over you.
There’s also a Daruma corner at the back of the exhibition room.
Some of the wooden toys are made for enjoying their movement, like spinning tops, while others are made for enjoying their sounds.
Thinking about the process of making them and the people who made them, I felt that every toy had a sophisticated design that kept children from getting hurt by the wood and let them enjoy playing without getting bored.
A space that brings contemporary crafts within reach
Just inside the entrance to the Japanese Folk Toy Museum, you’ll find Side Terrace and +1GALLERY.
Side Terrace and +1GALLERY
Side Terrace is housed in a building that was originally a tea room.
In 1999, architect Mariko Oga was responsible for the design and supervision, transforming it into its present form.
Kurashiki Glass and other items are displayed in the bright, open, glass-walled space.
Though the space is sophisticated, its plank flooring and the richly colored pillars and beams naturally draw visitors inside.
Side Terrace is also home to the museum cafe “Yanagi to Hariko,” which uses glasses made of Kurashiki Glass and by Masahiro Ishikawa. It opens irregularly, but its set of daily Western and Japanese sweets is popular.
For opening information about the museum cafe “Yanagi to Hariko,” check Instagram (@gangukan_cafe).
You can also see tableware for everyday use, so it would be lovely to relax for a moment and imagine how you might arrange a table setting.
At the back of Side Terrace is +1GALLERY. This space, which was once an inner storehouse, has been preserved in its original form.
With contemporary crafts on display, it feels like a place where old and new come together. The dim gallery was lit by soft lights, and the glasses reflected the light, creating a fantastical space.
+1GALLERY hosts special exhibitions by a wide variety of artists, including both regular exhibitions and newly planned ones.
Information about current and upcoming exhibitions is available on the official website, making me want to visit for each exhibition and enjoy both the works and the gallery.
We spoke with museum director Kimiko Oga and assistant director Nobuhisa Ono about the Japanese Folk Toy Museum, which brings together traditional folk toys and a contemporary gallery.
Japanese Folk Toy Museum Information
| Name | Japanese Folk Toy Museum |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-4-16 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-8058 |
| Parking | None Use a nearby parking lot. ※Parking at Geibunkan or Kurashiki Central Library is convenient. |
| Opening hours | 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ※Last admission to the museum is at 4:40 p.m. |
| Closed | Irregular holidays December 30–January 1 For other irregular closing days, check the official website. |
| Admission (tax included) | Admission is charged for the museum only. Pay at the shop register. Adults: 600 yen (500 yen) Middle school to university students: 300 yen (200 yen) Elementary school students: 100 yen (50 yen) Children under elementary school age: Free ※Prices in parentheses apply to groups of 10 or more and people with a disability certificate. |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restrooms | No restrooms |
| Child-rearing | Momokko Card participating business Admission available at the group rate |
| Website | Japanese Folk Toy Museum |
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