Collections in Japan

Discover 24 unusual collections in Japan.

Yuzuan Restaurant

Come for the fish sundae, stay for the collection of Studio Ghibli cat buses.

Tobacco & Salt Museum

This museum is dedicated to the cultural history of tobacco and salt, once monopolized in Japan.

Tavern Pachimon Wars

This bar is filled with Star Wars merchandise from around the world, all of it unlicensed knockoffs.

Permanently Closed

Yokohama, Japan

Pink Holiday

Barbies stare from the walls, sit on the tables, and even pop out of cakes at this quirky cafe.

Museum of Kites

This tiny museum hidden above a restaurant houses thousands of modern and traditional kites.

Intermediatheque

An unexpected curiosity cabinet hidden within a department store in the Japan Post tower.

Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

A collection of the specialized tools used to construct Japan’s beautiful architecture.

Kumano-chō, Japan

Fudenosato Kobo Brush Museum

This little town supplies Japan with most of its calligraphy brushes, still made by hand from animal fur.

Inuyama-shi, Japan

Little World Museum of Man

An anthropological theme park that depicts the cultures of around 20 different countries.

Tottori-shi, Japan

The Sand Museum

Giant sand sculptures of famous people and places are on display near the Tottori sand dunes.

Takayama, Japan

Hida Takayama Teddy Bear Eco Village

A collection of more than 1,000 teddies from nearly any profession.

Kitano-chō

Japan's largest collection of Western-style mansions in the port city of Kobe includes a recreation of Sherlock Holmes' 221B Baker Street quarters.

Yokohama, Japan

Tin Toy Museum Kitahara Collection

More tin toys than you can shake a clapping monkey at.

Meguro Parasitological Museum

Meet the world's longest tapeworm in a collection that really gets under your skin.

Wakayama, Japan

Awashima Jinja

A Japanese shrine to dolls.

Karuizawa, Japan

Karuizawa Picture Book Forest Museum

Children's literature inside, forest all around.