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.
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.
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.
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.