Bandai Museum
おもちゃのまちバンダイミュージアム
A museum that explains the region's story better than any guidebook.
Best season
Year-round — a reliable rainy-day option
Time needed
1–2 hours
Admission
Roughly ¥300–1,000 (≈ $2–6)
Opening hours
Typically 9:30–17:00, closed Mondays
What this place is
The Omocha no Machi Bandai Museum is a museum devoted to Bandai characters located in Mibu, Shimotsuga District, Tochigi, Japan. It opened on July 19, 2003 as the Bandai Museum at Matsudo, Chiba. It was closed on August 31, 2006 and moved to Mibu, Tochigi on April 28, 2007, where it features exhibits on Ultraman, Gundam, Godzilla, Super Sentai, and a Gundam-themed cafe along with various shops attached to the museum.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Why it is worth the trip
- Permanent galleries covering local history, industry and daily life in one clear sequence.
- Original artefacts and reconstructions you can get close to, with English panels in most major rooms.
- Rotating special exhibitions, so repeat visits rarely show the same thing twice.
What you can do here
- Follow the permanent exhibition route first — it is usually built as a chronological story.
- Borrow the audio guide or scan the QR panels for English, Korean or Chinese commentary.
- Try the hands-on corner: crafts, replicas and workshops aimed at all ages.
- Finish at the museum shop, which is often the best place in town for local-made souvenirs.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.
Getting there by public transport
Good to know before you go
- Closed on Mondays as a rule (or the next weekday when Monday is a holiday).
- Last admission is normally 30 minutes before closing.
- Photography rules differ between permanent and special exhibitions — check the signage.
Traveler reviews
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