Experience the World of KochiKame in Real Life: The Complete Guide to Kochikame Museum

At Kochikame Museum, you will find a wide variety of exhibits that let you connect with the world of the series.
At “The Place Where Ryo-san Was Born,” the museum displays reference materials and models that Osamu Akimoto used when drawing KochiKame, along with past collectible items and more.
The “All About Me!! Super Deluxe Original Art Gallery,” which recreates Akimoto’s hand-drawn originals as reproduced artwork, is another highlight.
In addition, “Ryo-san’s room,” a recreation of his cluttered messy room, is packed with hidden gags throughout.
With content that lets you enjoy the world of KochiKame more deeply, it is filled with things fans will want to see at least once.

Kochikame Museum is not only about displaying materials and goods, but also about enjoying original mini-games and hands-on exhibits.
On the 5th floor, at “Resurrected! Ryotsu-Daimeijin!!,” which recreates the atmosphere from the manga, you can draw a “Chara Mikuji” (character fortune slip) themed around 50 characters, offering playful KochiKame-style fun that goes beyond just looking.
On the 3rd floor, there are 20 mini-games, and these unique games created for the museum can captivate everyone from adults to children.
What is more, the 2nd-floor areas such as “Ryo-san’s room” and “Ryotsu’s Office of Eternal Glory” are filled with small gags and gimmicks that let you feel the world of the manga.

On the 1st floor at “Ryotsu Store,” you can purchase original goods themed around the characters.
From stationery, clear folders, and logo stickers to everyday items like smartphone rings, tote bags, and collaboration goods with local Katsushika industries, the lineup is wide-ranging.
One especially notable set is the collaboration with Monchhichi, the popular character by Sekiguchi.
Highly detailed plush toys dressed as Ryo-san, as well as rubber mascots you can attach to bags or keys, have been well received.
There are also items that showcase Japanese craftsmanship, such as chusen tenugui (hand-dyed hand towels) and stationery made in collaboration with Hokusei Pencil. (As of the day of reporting.)
More new products are planned in the future as well.
Because these goods are available only at Kochikame Museum, they are perfect as souvenirs or as memories of your trip.

5F The Birth of Ryotsu Kankichi!! is the starting point of your museum tour.
As soon as you step off the elevator, this floor opens up before you, exploring the background of Ryo-san’s birth and what makes him so captivating.
First, through hand-drawn footage by Osamu Akimoto, you can relive the moment when Ryo-san was created.
The walls are lined with Akimoto’s personal items and model collection, a wide range of past KochiKame goods, and materials related to the series, letting you glimpse the source and behind-the-scenes of the creative process.
It is also fun to look for small gags that sprinkle in fine details from the original work, such as a rose encyclopedia in the materials (a hobby of Section Chief Ohara).
Another highlight is “Resurrected! Ryotsu-Daimeijin!!,” which appears in the manga.
You can enjoy a “Chara Mikuji” (50 varieties) featuring KochiKame characters for 100 yen per try.

4F The World of Kochikame Works is a gallery that displays carefully selected reproduced artwork from 40 years of serialization, organized by theme.
Many original-art reproductions of famous and moving scenes are on display, letting you take in Osamu Akimoto’s delicate touch and powerful compositions up close.
In addition to still images, there is also a unique gimmick where Ryo-san in the artwork seems to start moving like animation.
There are also multi-angled ways to feel the world of the series, such as manga panel layouts that cover entire walls and a large-scale video that projects cover visuals from the comics all the way through volume 201.
One of the best parts of this floor is enjoying the changing themes and differences in artistic style across eras as you move through the exhibits.

3F Kochikame Playground is like an arcade floor, with around 20 pieces of digital content and Showa-retro-style mini-games available throughout.
In addition to operating the wooden computer “Yamada 28,” you can also enjoy gimmicks featuring Ryo-san’s inventions from the manga, such as “Kaiun Kaimeikun,” which suggests a lucky new name when you place your finger inside.
All around, you will find mini-games packed with gag elements, such as “AI Personality Test: How Much Ryo-san Are You?”, “Reiko and ♡ Compatibility Test,” and the rhythm game “Poku Poku Wa Game!! Open Up!! The World of Enlightenment”.
Some are available in English as well, making them easy to enjoy for visitors from Japan and overseas.
Everything is designed to recreate settings and scenes from the manga, giving you a humorous, memorable experience while engaging with the world of KochiKame.
There are also many photo spots, including life-size characters and manga-style setups that capture your face in a comical way.
In particular, spots where you can take photos with Reiko and Matome include fun gimmicks, so be sure to capture them.

2F A Floor for Me. is an experiential exhibit floor where you can sense Ryo-san’s presence with all five senses.
Based on the concept of “a place by me, for me,” it is made up of two zones.
The first is “Ryo-san’s room,” where the everyday feel is strikingly real, from laundry hanging indoors to a mini refrigerator, all evoking the lived-in atmosphere of a single man living alone.
Along with displays reflecting Ryo-san’s hobbies, such as a Famicom (classic game console), horse-racing newspapers, and videotapes, the many detailed touches packed with small gags are also highlights.
From Maria’s homemade lunch in the fridge to the mysterious ingredients in a “mystery hot pot,” there is no end to what you can spot.
The second is “Ryotsu’s Office of Eternal Glory,” where you can sit in a fine leather chair to take photos, and you can even take home the written apology statement tucked away in a drawer as a souvenir of your visit.

1F “Welcome to Kameari !” is the floor that connects the manga’s world with the real Kameari.
The reception entrance faithfully recreates the police box down to the desk, phone, and bulletin board, pulling you in instantly.
Inside the elevator up to the upper floors, countless wanted posters of Ryo-san are plastered on the walls, and announcements by Section Chief Ohara play during the ride, adding plenty of small, thoughtful details.
Notably, this floor also serves as the museum’s goal.
After enjoying floors 2 through 5, you return to the 1st floor again, buy museum-original goods and other souvenirs at “Ryotsu Store,” and then head out into town, which is how the experience is structured.
In the exchange space, the museum also introduces a digital map of Kameari as well as videos of Kameari festivals and events, letting you sense the deep connection between the area and the series.
Because the 1st floor is free, it is also recommended to stop by just to shop for goods or gather sightseeing information.

Kameari Park is a park located very close to the north exit of JR Kameari Station (go straight and then turn right), and it is famous because a park of the same name appears in the KochiKame manga.
People never stop taking commemorative photos with the two statues of the manga’s protagonist, “Ryo-san,” inside the park.
One is the “Double Peace Ryo-san Statue,” and the other is the “Hitoyasumi Ryo-san Statue” sitting on a bench.
Behind the bench-seated Ryo-san statue, there is also a large signboard.

This shrine is located about 300 meters southeast from JR Kameari Station, across a major road (Kannana-dori).
Kameari Katori Shrine is cherished by locals as a venerable shrine founded in 1276, and it is also famous for appearing frequently in KochiKame.
Within the grounds is the “Shonen yo, Ano Hoshi o Mezase! Ryo-san Statue.”
It is also included on some of the Kameari area maps, so many people stop by during their stroll.

Kameari Ginza Shopping Street is a straight shopping street about 200 meters long, stretching from the south exit of JR Kameari Station toward the Old Mito Kaido.
It has a history of forming naturally in the early Showa period, and shops rooted in daily life line the street, supporting the everyday routines of local residents.
Today, about 110 shops are members, and the street operates divided into five areas from A to E.
There are also independently run deli shops and coffeehouses, and the streetscape’s charm lies in how it retains the strong flavor of the Showa era, with signs and displays that evoke a nostalgic feel.
Events are also held frequently, and another feature is the chance to interact with warm, neighborly people unique to a downtown area.
Within the shopping street you will also find the “Shonen Ryo-san Statue,” character statues and panels, local specialty foods, and many other touches that let you feel KochiKame everywhere.