Kaiyodo Shimanto Museum Village

Wander deep into the mountains that surround the Shimanto River and chances are you’ll stumble upon something pretty unique. Standing tall emblazoned with cartoon faces, it’s the Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto, an anime and figure collector’s paradise. Built inside the now closed down Utsui Elementary School, the museum is a dedication to the history and products of Kaiyodo, a popular and successful Osaka based figurine manufacturing company. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a hardcore geek or just a passing visitor with very little knowledge of Japanese pop culture, this multi-colored wonderland is a fascinating trip for everyone.

Kaiyodo Shimanto Museum Village

The museum was born in 2011 when Osamu Miyawaki, the founder of Kaiyodo, discovered that the building of the old Utsuigawa Elementary School, had remained vacant after closing down in 2008. Reinvented in collaboration with the local administration of the area, the hope for this museum was that once again it would become a site where people could come together, socialize, have fun, and even learn something new.

Kaiyodo Shimanto Museum Village

It’s estimated that there are over 10,000 items on display here spanning both the world of anime as well as more ‘typical’ recreations of giant dinosaurs, animals, microbes, rockets, cartoon style airplanes, and much more. The museum’s collection features pieces that have both artistic and collectors merit, including sculptor exhibits and an impressive library of manga magazines as well as other miscellaneous items collected by Miyawaki and the Kaiyodo company as far back as the 1960s.

Kaiyodo Shimanto Museum Village

The museum’s shop stocks the latest Kaiyodo products as well as Kochi souvenirs. For those with a few extra coins weighing down their pockets be sure to check out the massive adjoining Kaiyodo-made capsule toy corner, where you can pick up a few fun gifts to take home.

Kaiyodo Shimanto Museum Village

Keeping with the school theme the museum also offers classes on mini-diorama construction using Kaiyodo’s mini-figurines which is open to anyone who wants to participate. The class costs 1,000 yen and takes around an hour. During the lesson you’ll learn all about the basics of creating a diorama, before you’re let free to craft your very own unique miniature garden.

Kaiyodo Shimanto Museum Village

If you have a little extra time to spare, pay a visit to the nearby Kaiyodo Kappa Museum, a dedication to one of the country's most popular mythical figures. Said to live in lakes and rivers across Japan, kappa are little child-sized half turtle half human creatures and have been the feature star of many Japanese folk legends since the beginning of time.

The easiest way to get to the area is by car, it’s about a 30-minute drive from Shimantocho-Chuo Interchange on Kochi Expressway. If travelling by public transport, the journey is a scenic 60-minute walk from JR Utsuigawa Station on the Yodo Line.

Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto

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Kaiyodo Kappakan

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