Kadokawa Culture Museum

The Kadokawa Musashino Museum is a dynamic five-story cultural complex that seamlessly blends architecture, exhibits, and atmosphere. It combines a library, museums, galleries, exhibition spaces, a garden, and lecture and workshop facilities. Museum director Akira Ikegami calls it “a melting pot”, reflecting its multi-dimensional nature.

Guided by Seigo Matsuoka, Hiroshi Aramata, Kengo Kuma, and Shingo Jinno, the museum presents culture from multiple perspectives, spanning mainstream and pop culture. Supported by Musashino50, a collective of 50 board members, staff, specialists, and volunteers, it offers visitors a deeper understanding of its vision, people, and spirit.

Highlights by Floor

Each floor offers unique experiences, from experimental galleries and extensive libraries to anime exhibitions, curated art spaces, and regional cultural displays. The following guide highlights the key attractions on every level.

1st Floor

Grand Gallery: A 1,000 m² experimental space showcasing objects from nature, science, art, history, fashion, environment, and society, emphasising unconventional combinations to convey unique messages and discoveries.
Genyoshi Garden: The former residence of founder Genyoshi Kadokawa, named Aogaki Sanbo, features a prominent magnolia tree gifted in 1955 and landscaped by Seijun Nishihata with cherry trees and the autumn “Seven Flowers”.
Manga & Light Novel Library: Houses approximately 40,000 volumes, including light novels, comics, and children’s books, providing a comprehensive collection of Japanese entertainment literature.

2nd Floor

Lobby: Features contemporary art from the Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation, rotating museum projects, a café, and a shop.
KadoCafe: Offers additive-free sweets such as “Oimoball” and lattes printed with museum sketches, in a Kengo Kuma–designed space overlooking the Sakura Town water basin.
Rock Museum Shop: Offers museum-exclusive goods, local crafts, and distinctive food products, including items inspired by the building’s architecture.

3rd Floor

EJ Anime Museum: Presents Japanese anime as a cultural phenomenon, highlighting the works, their creators, related products, and the broader entertainment ecosystem.

4th Floor

Edit Town – Book Street: A 50-meter street lined with 25,000 books arranged under nine thematic contexts curated by Seigo Matsuoka.
EDIT & ART Gallery: Displays contemporary artworks across multiple genres, providing a space for reflection and imagination.
ARAMATA Wunderkammer: Supervised by Hiroshi Aramata, this “cabinet of wonders” combines diverse exhibits from historical curiosities to academic displays.
Bookshelf Theatre: Surrounded by 8-meter-high bookshelves with approximately 20,000 volumes, including notable personal collections, complemented by immersive projection mapping.
Attic Step: A staircase space housing around 3,000 carefully selected volumes from Aramata’s personal library, offering a rare glimpse into his collection.
Facility Rental: Lecture and workshop rooms are available for meetings, seminars, and art classes.

5th Floor

Musashino Gallery: Features exhibitions on Musashino-related themes and a range of cultural topics unique to the museum.
Musashino Corridor: Contains books and materials curated by folklorist Norio Akasaka on themes such as woodlands, rivers, suburbs, travel, and land development.
SACULA DINER: Serves “Musashino cuisine” using local and seasonal ingredients, including Santome vegetables grown with traditional leaf-composting methods, prepared in innovative ways.

To enhance their experience at the museum, visitors can download the official Kadokawa Culture Museum Audio Guide App, which offers audio and text commentary on the museum’s facilities and artworks.

Admission fees may differ based on the areas or exhibitions within the museum.