Japan Toy Museum

Located in the rural outskirts of Himeji, approximately 10 kilometers northeast of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Himeji Castle, the Japan Toy Museum is a privately operated institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing toys from Japan and around the world. The museum houses an extensive collection of approximately 90,000 toy artifacts from 160 countries and regions, displayed across six traditional storehouse-style buildings.

The museum's origins date back to 1963 when its current director, Shigeyoshi Inoue, then a company employee, was inspired by a single book that revealed the rapid disappearance of cultural heritage related to children's toys. Motivated by this realization, he began collecting folk toys from various regions of Japan. In 1974, he opened a small exhibition space within his home, which gradually expanded with the support of many contributors, ultimately becoming one of Japan’s most renowned toy museums.

Today, the Japan Toy Museum is dedicated to the study, collection, and research of toys and dolls from both Japan and across the globe. It hosts permanent exhibitions as well as seasonal and special exhibitions to deepen the understanding of toy-related culture. Additionally, the museum organizes hands-on workshops where visitors can experience traditional toy-making techniques.