Who does not love this little blue and white cat robot? So why not visit the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, the home of Doraemon if you are in Tokyo. And step into Doraemon’s magical world at his Kawasaki museum while you are in town.
Just about 1 hour by train from Shibuya Station towards Yokohama, you will find Fujiko F. Fujio Museum. You may ask, what? And you are right, because if you are not a dedicated fan, you may not know this name. But we are pretty sure you know this author and illustrator’s famous creation: Doraemon. The little cat robot, whose ears have been eaten by mice. True story. And of course many others of his characters.
We love it because the museum offers a very rare insight into Fujiko F. Fujio’s original works and illustrations, way beyond Doraemon. With both permanent and temporary exhibitions, you will find yourself discovering the person behind the pictures and don’t worry, they offer free audio guides (English, Chinese or Korean) to cross the language barrier.
What to expect at Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, the home of Doraemon?
Another thing we like is the fact that this museum is very interactive. With the main space, known as the “People’s Plaza” sending you on a bit of a treasure hunt letting you uncover the inspiration and process behind the creation of our favorite feline robot.
Have a look at this short video, it will give you an idea of what to expect:
But there is more…
Once you got your fill of seeing the artwork, why not relax at the museum’s in-house theatre? Where in intervals of 20min you can watch a few short, original movies. And if that is not enough our favorite place is still to come: the rooftop playground. Perfect for that selfie, as here you find many life-size figurines including Nobita’s dinosaur and the “Anywhere Door”. Hm, where would you go if you could use this one?
Last but not least even a Robot has to eat, right?
Just next to the rooftop playground you will find a cafe featuring dishes and drinks inspired by Doraemon and his friends. We recommend a Doraemon latte for that caffeine fix or get one of the mains, such as taco rice or pasta. All inspired by this adorable character..
And if that is not yet enough, a quick stop at the museum shop will mark the perfect end to your visit. But we warn you, this is a very dangerous place…
How to buy tickets?
Because this is a popular Museum, similar to Studio Ghibli tickets become available on the 30th of each month, two months in advance. You can pick from four 2h slots and the entry fee is 1000¥ for adults and 500¥ for Children.
If you are in Japan you can buy them at the Lawson here. If you are not in Japan you can also get them via Lawson, but the process is slightly different, but don’t worry the site is in English here.
Our Opinion?
Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, the home of Doraemon is the perfect place to visit and see some original artwork, eat Doraemon-inspired dishes or get your Instagram game on! We love their rooftop playground and it really is a fun place to visit, whether you are by yourself, with family or a few friends.
For more information or how to get there check out the official homepage.
And if you are looking for more character museums while in Tokyo, why not check out the Snoopy Museum?
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