[Art and Travel 01] Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, Kawasaki City

Noborito Station is served by the Odakyu Line and the JR Nambu Line. Urban redevelopment work in front of the station will begin in fiscal year 2025, transforming it into a more convenient and attractive town. This time, we visited the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in Kawasaki City. This is a report of a magical weekend family trip that will thrill both adults and children, stepping from Noborito Station into the exciting world of manga.
(Top image: Fujiko F. Fujio Museum Harappa, Kawasaki City ©Fujiko-Pro)

"Dreams," "wonder," and "playfulness"

Fujiko F. Fujio (real name: Hiroshi Fujimoto), the manga artist who created many works such as "Doraemon," "Perman," and "Kiteretsu Encyclopedia," lived with his family in Tama Ward, Kawasaki City for 35 years, continuing to draw manga for children. His works, filled with dreams, hope, friendship, courage, curiosity, and a gentle love for others, continue to fascinate fans all over the world.

The Kawasaki City Fujiko F. Fujio Museum was created after Masako Fujimoto, the wife of Fujiko F. Fujio, expressed her desire to display the original artwork to the city of Kawasaki in 1999. With approximately 50,000 valuable items in its collection, it has become a popular spot, attracting over 5 million visitors since its opening on September 3, 2011.

Take the direct shuttle bus to the museum.

To get to the museum, it's recommended to take the direct shuttle bus (for a fee) from Noborito Station. The buses run every 10-15 minutes, and the ride takes about 9 minutes. There are four buses with different wrapping and color schemes, and their license plates are 2112, the year Doraemon was born. The interior is also full of thoughtful details, from the seats to the stop request buzzers.

Upon alighting from the bus, the museum entrance is right there. Since it's a strictly timed-entry system, you present the QR code issued after purchase as your admission ticket at your reserved time. Although I visited on the last day of a major holiday weekend, this system allowed me to enjoy the exhibits at a leisurely pace without encountering unexpected crowds.

▶ Purchase tickets here

Original artwork from "Doraemon" collaborates with cutting-edge technology.

The museum has three floors, with Exhibition I and the museum shop located on the first floor.
Exhibition Room I is filled with original color illustrations and valuable materials created for comic book covers and other purposes. The walls feature special displays of original color illustrations and an exciting exhibit that lets you enjoy almost an entire chapter of a manga in original artwork. What was particularly wonderful was the corner where Doraemon and his friends teach you how to draw manga in a mysterious way. I was able to learn about the steps and meticulous work involved in creating a manga.

The second floor features Exhibition Room II, where special exhibitions are held, and a well-equipped interactive area.
The "F Theater" screens original short films, and "Minna no Hiroba" features a miniature of the Nobi family home where Doraemon lives, as well as photo spots. There's also a manga corner and a kids' space exclusively for preschoolers, so children can have fun and play freely.

The interactive exhibit "The Woodcutter's Spring" is also popular, allowing visitors to experience the world of the manga. When visitors slowly move the lever up and down, a "handsome" Gian appears from Doraemon's secret gadget, the Woodcutter's Spring, bringing smiles to the faces of visitors.

Enjoy "SF - A Little Bit Mysterious"

On the second floor, in Exhibition Room II, the "Fujiko F. Fujio's Chichinpui! Science and Magic Manga Exhibition" is being held from October 30, 2024 to October 26, 2025. The second half of the exhibition, featuring a change in the exhibited original drawings, began on May 21. This limited-time exhibition showcases works that use science and magic as motifs, such as the secret gadgets of the future from "Doraemon" and the magic of Planet Maar that appears in "Chinpui," while deciphering Fujiko F. Fujio's unique way of fulfilling dreams.

Having seen Fujiko F. Fujio's favorite work desk, the vast collection of books and materials on the enormous bookshelves, and his treasured collection on the first floor, the experience was all the more moving. It was a truly impressive exhibition that conveyed Fujiko F. Fujio's passion for his work.

After viewing the exhibits, head to the museum cafe on the 3rd floor, the gift shop "Fujiko-ya," or "Harappa," a rooftop space adjacent to Ikuta Ryokuchi Park where you can enjoy nature. You can take photos with the Anywhere Door, the familiar concrete pipes, and various characters. Why not enjoy a leisurely artistic trip on your next day off?

Text by Mai Shimura (Editor/Writer)