All Reviews of Izu Teddy Bear Museum

This place is basically a paradise of cute and soothing attractions! As soon as you enter, you're surrounded by adorable teddy bears. On the first floor, you can experience the history and culture of teddy bears through different themed displays, while the second floor transforms into a dreamy world of My Neighbor Totoro. There are also all kinds of merchandise to browse at your leisure.

The most interesting part is that you can reserve a hands-on workshop and make your own plush toy, which is perfect for families with children. It's also not far from Izu-Kogen Station on foot, and the surroundings are quiet and relaxing. Although the museum isn't large, it's just as cute as you'd expect! Don't miss this place full of childlike wonder when visiting Izu-Kogen.

The most special part of the Izu Teddy Bear Museum is the My Neighbor Totoro-themed exhibit on the second floor, officially licensed by Studio Ghibli. It recreates many classic scenes from the movie. I originally came for the Catbus. The Ghibli Museum also has a Catbus, but only kids can go inside. Here, even adults can sit in it and take photos, which is awesome!

Near the exit, there’s also a whole row of “Teddy Bear Shrine” displays. From the torii gate and worship hall to the shrine maiden teddy bears, everything is really well done. It’s a fun mix of foreign teddy bear culture and Japanese shrine elements.

The first floor mainly introduces the history of teddy bears and displays collections from around the world. The highlight is the “Teddy Bear Train.” The scene inside the train car feels a bit like the banquet in Titanic, just set on a train. At certain times, the bears even dance together. When I visited, it happened to be Girls’ Day, so they also had a teddy bear version of a traditional hina doll display.

The museum isn’t huge, but everything from the indoor exhibits to the outdoor decorations is put together with a lot of care. The ticket price is a little on the high side, but overall, it’s still well worth visiting.

The museum has a bit of a vintage vibe and a lot of character. It doesn’t feel overly commercial.