JAPAN TOY MUSEUM

The Japan Toy Museum (日本玩具博物館) is located in a verdant rural setting about 10 kilometres north of Himeji, home to Japan's famous UNESCO World Heritage castle. Housed in six traditional whitewashed warehouses with folkcraft interiors, the museum holds a collection of more than 90,000 items including Japanese folk toys, chirimen (crêpe fabric) crafts, traditional dolls, and toys from over 160 countries around the world. In addition to permanent exhibitions in buildings 2, 3, and 4, seasonal and special exhibitions are held in buildings 1 and 6. Interactive play corners allow visitors of all ages to handle and play with the toys. Founded in 1974, the museum has become a model for toy museums throughout Japan.