Outline of Tokyo Toy Museum
Located in Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, the Tokyo Toy Museum was created by renovating the former Yotsuya Daishi Elementary School building, which was built in 1935. In response to strong requests from residents, the museum overcame the threat of demolition and made a fresh start in 2008. The nostalgic atmosphere of the old school building has been preserved. At the same time, the new location has been reborn as a modern, hands-on museum, providing visitors with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
One of the most unique features of this museum is that visitors can touch and play with toys in a space where they can feel the warmth of wood. The museum offers a wide variety of toys for children and adults' enjoyment. This hands-on museum, where visitors can learn through play, also serves as a place for intergenerational exchange, making it ideal for families and friends to visit.
The Tokyo Toy Museum displays approximately 150,000 toys collected from Japan and abroad. These toys can be seen, touched, and played with, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the fascination of toys. This facility, which can be enjoyed by all ages, from babies to adults, is a much-loved place that promotes learning and discovery through play.
The museum has 11 classrooms with a different theme and toy exhibits. Each classroom focuses on a particular culture or way of playing, allowing visitors to learn about different national and regional cultures through various toys. This provides an experience that is more than just a place to play; it also has an educational component.
History and Background of the Tokyo Toy Museum
The Tokyo Toy Museum opened in 1984 in Nakano Ward, Tokyo. It is operated by the non-profit organization Art and Play Creation Association and was established as a place for children to learn through play. The museum aims to nurture through toys and consists of three pillars: seeing, making, and playing. This provides visitors with the opportunity to not only view toys but also actually touch and play with them.
Later, in 2008, the museum moved to its current location in Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku. Using the former Yotsuya Daishi Elementary School building in Shinjuku, the center was able to preserve the historical building in the area while providing a modern play space. The relocation has also made it more accessible to visitors and serves as a center for cultural exchange in the community.
The museum is operated by the Association for the Creation of Art and Play, a non-profit organization that aims to contribute to the local community by promoting interaction among people through play. The Toy Museum is more than just an exhibition facility; it functions as a place for local people to gather and learn from each other through play.
In response to requests from residents, the museum was re-launched in the form of a former school building. Initially slated for demolition, the school building was renovated and reborn as the Tokyo Toy Museum, thanks to the local community's enthusiasm. In this way, the management policy reflects the voices of the local community, creating strong ties with residents and serving as an essential element in fostering local culture.
The museum's establishment also had the objective of preserving a local historical building and making it a center for community interaction. By using an old school building, the museum promotes contemporary play culture while respecting the community's history. These efforts strengthen the community's identity and provide a special experience for visitors.
Exhibits at the Tokyo Toy Museum
The Tokyo Toy Museum exhibits diverse toys that give visitors a sense of Japanese and international history and culture. In particular, the museum houses approximately 150,000 toys, which have been collected from over 100 countries.
Visitors can look at them and actually pick them up and play with them, thus deepening their learning through hands-on experience. This hands-on approach provides a valuable opportunity for learning through play, especially for children.
The museum displays many high-quality toys, especially those selected as "Good Toys." More than 2,000 toy consultants vote on these toys each year, and more than 100 of these carefully selected toys are on permanent display. Through these "Good Toys," visitors are expected to gain experiences stimulating all five senses and fostering communication skills and creativity through play.
In addition to the permanent collection, the Tokyo Toy Museum regularly holds special exhibitions based on themes. These give visitors the opportunity to learn about valuable toys that focus on a particular culture or region.
For example, traditional toys from specific countries and toys with historical backgrounds are displayed, allowing visitors to deepen their cross-cultural understanding through play. Such diverse exhibits not only add educational value but also provide new discoveries for visitors.
Is the Tokyo Toy Museum interactive?
The Tokyo Toy Museum is a hands-on museum where visitors can play with and learn about toys. Here, visitors can experience high-quality toys collected from Japan and overseas in a space where they can feel the warmth of wood and nurture their communication skills and creativity through play. In particular, the museum provides an environment that can be enjoyed by all generations, from babies to adults, making it an ideal place for families.
The museum offers a variety of hands-on facilities for visitors to participate in, such as "Toy Koubou" and "Toy Hospital." Visitors can experience the fun of making toys with their own hands at Toy Koubou and repair broken toys at Toy Hospital. Through these experiences, visitors rediscover the importance of toys and the joy of playing with them, and the facility serves as a place where intergenerational exchanges can occur.
Toy curators are on hand at the Tokyo Toy Museum to teach visitors how to use toys and suggest ways to play with them. They wear red aprons and, as play specialists, serve as a bridge between visitors and toys. The presence of toy curators is vital in helping visitors discover new ways to play and providing a more in-depth experience.
How to enjoy the Tokyo Toy Museum
The Tokyo Toy Museum is designed to be enjoyed by visitors of all ages, from 0 to 99. The museum is housed in a former elementary school building, which provides a warm, woodsy atmosphere. Visitors can experience the joy of play through a variety of age-appropriate experiences. In particular, the museum provides a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone, from babies to the elderly.
Of particular note is the "Baby Mokuiku Hiroba" dedicated to babies. This area is a safe space for children 0 to 2 years old and their guardians only and is made of solid cedar wood to create a warm and welcoming environment. Here, parents and children can enjoy safely interacting with wooden toys that babies can play with. The goal is to nurture children's sensitivity and creativity through wood education.
Visitors can have fun with family and friends through wooden toys and board games. A wide variety of toys are available in the museum for visitors to freely touch and play with. This creates intergenerational interaction and allows visitors to create memories while playing together. In particular, the analog game corner is where visitors can enjoy competing with friends and family and where smiles never appear.
In addition, on weekends, events and workshops are held by experts from various fields, offering visitors new experiences. These events provide a rare opportunity for participants to learn firsthand.
For example, craft workshops use wooden toys and sessions to learn the rules of board games, allowing participants to hone their skills while having fun. Through these activities, visitors can rediscover the appeal of toys and gain a deeper understanding of them.
Tokyo Toy Museum Access and Reservation Information
The Tokyo Toy Museum is located in Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, just a seven-minute walk from Yotsuya-Sanchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line.
This accessibility is one of the major attractions for visitors. Surrounded by a quiet residential area, the area offers an environment that allows visitors to forget the hustle and bustle of the city.
Public transportation makes visiting stress-free, making it a very convenient location for families and tourists.
The Tokyo Toy Museum uses a reservation system, encouraging visitors to purchase tickets online.
This system avoids crowding and ensures smooth entry to the museum.
Discounts are often available, especially for online purchasers, making it economical. Planning your visit in advance will give you a more fulfilling experience. Same-day tickets may also be purchased. In that case, reservations are not required.
The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the last admission at 3:30 p.m. This schedule allows visitors to enjoy the exhibitions at their leisure. Also, please note that the museum is closed every Thursday, but if a national holiday falls on a Thursday, the museum will be open and closed the following day. This allows visitors to fit their visit into a variety of schedules.
Official Site (Japanese)→Tokyo Toy Museum
