Fujiko F Fujio Museum (Doraemon Museum)
2 Chome-8-1 Nagao, Tama, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-0023
Doraemon is one of the most distinctive and beloved of Japanese manga characters: a blue robot cat who time travels back from the 22nd century. He was created in 1969 by manga artist Fujimoto Hiroshi, who used the pen name Fujiko Fujio. The museum named after him is a Doraemon-lover’s dream destination, and a fun activity for other travelers, too.
The basics
The Fujiko F. Fujio Museum is informally called the Doraemon Museum. Although it mainly targets children, it is also a fun destination for adult travelers who grew up with Doraemon. The museum displays permanent and temporary exhibitions, including original artwork from Doraemon as well as Fujio’s other series. Parts of the museum are hands-on, with activities, playrooms, and film screenings. A cute quirk is an on-site restaurant, which serves Doraemon-themed (and shaped!) dishes. Most travelers visit independently.
Things to know before you go
- Tickets are not for sale at the museum; they must be purchased in advance at Lawson convenience stores, at the Loppi automatic ticket machines. These are only in Japanese.
- Tickets are released on the 30th of the month for the month after next. For example, tickets for admission in March go on sale on January 30th.
- Visitors must enter the museum within 30 minutes of their allocated time slot. There are four slots per day: at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.
- There is no parking at the museum, but disabled visitors who must reach the museum by car can contact them in advance to make arrangements.
- An English-language audio guide is available.
How to get there
The museum is in Kawasaki city, in Kanagawa Prefecture, about 16 miles (27 kilometers) and an hour’s journey from central Tokyo. There is no parking, so the museum asks that visitors come by public transport. The museum is near a few railway stations: Norobito (JR Nanbu and Odakyu lines), Mukougaoka Yuen (Odakyu line), and Shuku Gawara (JR Nanbu line). A shuttle bus service runs from Norobito station to the museum.
When to get there
The museum is open every day except Tuesday and some Japanese public holidays. It’s open from 10am until 6pm, but visitors must come during their allocated time. Weekend and school holiday tickets sell out quickly.
Visit the Ghibli Museum
Another fun museum devoted to Japanese pop culture is the Ghibli Museum. This presents the work of Studio Ghibli, a leading Japanese animation studio that’s sometimes called Japan’s version of Disney. It’s an imaginative place and an ideal destination to come with kids, whether or not you (or they) are into anime or manga.
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