Fujiko F. Fujio Museum

What to know

The Fujiko F. Fujio Museum (藤子・F・不二雄ミュージアム), also known informally as the Doraemon Museum, is a whimsical art museum located in the suburbs of Kawasaki. It celebrates the work of Fujiko F. Fujio (pen name of manga artist Fujimoto Hiroshi), creator of Doraemon—a beloved series about a robotic cat from the 22nd century who travels back in time to befriend a group of children. Advance reservations are required to visit.

Doraemon has been popular for decades and continues to captivate audiences today. While the museum is designed with children in mind, it also appeals to adults who grew up with the series. Though not huge, it boasts an extensive collection of Fujiko F. Fujio's work, including original artwork from Doraemon, 21-emon, Kaibutsukun, and several other series. An excellent English audio guide is included with admission, offering plenty of commentary on Fujiko's life and the art on display.

The second, more interactive half of the museum is geared toward young children. It features a theater showing an original short film, a manga reading room, and several play areas. Outside, life-size statues of Doraemon characters are scattered around the museum grounds, perfect for touching and taking photos. There's also a cafe serving Doraemon-themed dishes and a well-stocked gift shop with character goods from Doraemon and Fujiko's other series.

The Fujiko F. Fujio Museum is easiest to reach from Noborito Station, which is served by both the Odakyu Odawara Line (20 minutes, 270 yen by express train from Shinjuku, frequent departures) and the JR Nambu Line (30 minutes, 350 yen from Kawasaki Station, frequent departures). A shuttle bus (10 minutes, 220 yen) runs every 10-15 minutes between the station and the museum.

Alternatively, the museum is about a 15-minute walk from either Mukogaoka Yuen Station on the Odakyu Odawara Line (20 minutes, 270 yen from Shinjuku) or Shukugawara Station on the JR Nambu Line (25 minutes, 350 yen from Kawasaki).