Uncovering Kaiyodo Figure Museum: Japan’s Quirky Stop for Curious Travelers

Tucked away in the quiet town of Nagahama (長浜) in Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県), the Kaiyodo Figure Museum (海洋堂フィギュアミュージアム) is a delightful surprise for travelers who love discovering Japan’s creative side. More than just a showcase of toys and anime figures, it’s a celebration of imagination; where tiny sculptures tell big stories. Whether you’re an art lover, a collector, or simply curious, visiting this quirky little museum will offer a glimpse into the creative spirit of Japanese culture.

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Kaiyodo Figure Museum Travel Guide

A Little Bit of Background About Kaiyodo

Before we explore the museum itself, lets find out a bit about the founding of Kaiyodo (海洋堂). Kaiyodo’s story starts quietly in 1964, inside a tiny hobby shop in Osaka run by Miyawaki Osamu (宮脇修). What began as a humble space for plastic models slowly grew into something much more meaningful—almost like a love letter to imagination.

In the 1980s, Kaiyodo shifted from simply selling figures to hand-crafting its own garage kits; hand-sculpted, small-batch figures that quickly gained a cult following in Japan’s growing otaku culture. Their figures often reflected deep admiration for science fiction, anime characters, and natural history subjects. Collectors started to take notice of his work, and soon Kaiyodo transformed from just a mere shop into THE figurine company of Japan.

By the 1990s and 2000s, Kaiyodo had become a global leader in figure artistry. It introduced iconic lines such as Revoltech, known for its innovative joint system that allowed dynamic posing for the figurines; adding a layer of dynamism and liveliness to the figurines themselves.

Today, Kaiyodo remains celebrated for blending traditional sculpting skill with playful imagination, inspiring museumssuch as the Kaiyodo Figure Museum to showcase the brand’s creative legacy.

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Now that we got the basics out of the way, lets begin our journey to the museum itself!

Let's Search for the Kaiyodo Figure Museum

Kaiyodo Figure Museum (海洋堂フィギュアミュージアム) is located near the Kurokabe Square (黒壁スクエア), a black vintage building from the Meiji era (明治) that once served as a bank as well as a icon of Nagahama (長浜). From the square, simply head toward the main street and walk north; you’ll spot the familiar old-town facades, cozy shops, and the steady stream of visitors clutching sweet treats and souvenirs.

It’s one of those short, scenic walks where you can’t help but pause and peek into glass-blown cafés or grab a quick soft serve along the way. And what I like about lesser-known cities like Nagahama is that there is no rush here, as the pace here is delightfully slow.

In just about five minutes, you’ll see the museum’s blue signage welcoming you into Kaiyodo’s playground of imagination. The entrance feels subtly tucked into the old-town streetscape, which is difficult to miss it’s magnificent Romanesque entrance in contrast with the surrounding vintage shops.

Entering Kaiyodo Figure Museum

As we step inside into the museum, suddenly it doesn’t feel like a old castle town lane, but rather a vibrant miniature universe brimming with impossibly detailed iconic figurines and merchandises, all meticulously arranged in display. Prior to entering, we first purchased our ticket from the counter which costs 1,000 Yen per pax.

If you are staying at Nagahama for at least a night, consider getting the Nagahama Excursion Passport (長浜おでかけパスポート pronounced as Nagahama Odekake Pasupoto). It only costs 1,500 Yen and it provides access to 13 popular attractions in the city. This is great for those who want to explore other attractions along with the Kaiyodo Figure Museum. Click HERE to find out more!

Upon entering the entrance to the exhibition halls, we were immediately greeted by the towering anime (アニメ) figures of Kenshiro (ケンシロウ), Yuria (ユリア) and Raoh (ラオウ); all three characters are from the legendary 80s manga (マンガ) and anime series Hokuto no Ken (北斗の拳 or Fist of the North Star).

The sheer details on not just the facial expressions and body features but also the dynamic poses of the figurines alone serves as an appetizer of what to expect in the museum itself! Especially when the first figurine we saw right as we enter is this large dynamic figurine of Eva-01 from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Checking Out The Exhibits at Kaiyodo Figure Museum

While the museum’s building itself isn’t large in comparison to other museums, don’t let it’s size fool you as there are plenty of exhibits to look out for inside. In fact, it took us at least an hour or two to check out all the exhibits (allocate another hour in case you are a huge fan of figurines!).

What makes the exhibits here interesting are the variety of figurines in display; ranging from standalone figurines to colourful and vibrant miniature landscapes containing multiple figurines, and from tiny-sized figurines to even human-sized ones. Explaining the exhibits here by words alone would have been an injustice to the figurines; so instead, here are some photos of the exhibits themselves.

One of the more outstanding figurines here is the Godzilla (Gojira/ゴジラ in Japanese) one which is about the size of a human children. Even with such a large figurine, the developers managed to get even the little details right; from Godzilla’s ferocious jaws down to his rough scaly skin. By admiring the details of the figurines themselves, one can feel the passion being poured by the creators into the figurines themselves.

Needless to say, this place is a hidden treasure chest for fans of anime (アニメ) and manga (漫画) as one can find at least one figurine from not just anime or manga series, but also the classical tokusatsu (特撮) series. There are even figurines being made for animals and even various Buddhist deities such as the Kannon Bosatsu (観音菩薩) as well as Egyptian mummies!

Don't Forget to Check Out the Gashapon On Your Way Out

Before heading out, one mustn’t miss out on the Gashapon (ガシャポン) machines at Kaiyodo Figure Museum. Gashapon (ガシャポン) refers to capsule toys dispersed by vending machine; a small capsule that often contains a small toy inside.

The word Gashapon (ガシャポン) comes from two word sounds; Gasha which is the sound made from a hand-cranking action of a vending machine and pon, the sound of the capsule landing on the collection tray. And the concept of capsule vending machine originates from the small vending machines of gumballs that were first invented in the United States.

What impressed me here is the sheer variety of goodies they offer for their Gashapon machines. Some of the unique ones we have spotted are animal figurines in a bathroom and the one with the Buddhist deities figurines; which also happens to be their no 1 best selling product!

My personal favourite here is the one featuring the actual pearls! My wife attempted this one for 1,000 Yen and she eventually got herself a pearl earring. It really amazes me how creative the Japanese are when it comes to business ideas.

Staying at Nagahama - What If I Want to Stay Overnight?

Nagahama also features a variety of attractions that are nearby the Kaiyodo Figure Museum which are worth visiting. Some of these include the iconic Kurokabe Square (黒壁スクエア) which contains a mix of traditional Japanese houses together with an European vintage building that serves as a gallery for glassware.

There is also the nearby Nagahama Castle (長浜城) that offers a splendid view of the magnificent Lake Biwa (琵琶湖) and the Daitsuji Temple (長浜別院大通寺) that features some lovely fusuma (襖) paintings. And just out of town is the Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum; an area that was once the site of the most decisive battle in Japan’s feudal history.

If you are visiting these attractions, it is highly advisable to book a stay HERE at Nagahama for a more relaxing trip. Here are some options to consider:

For those looking for convenient and economical hotels, Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort & Spa, Hotel R9 The Yard, Machiya no Yado Iroha and Green Hotel Yes Nagahama are worth considering.

If you are willing to spend more on accommodation, Hamakogetsu, Nagahama Lifestyle Glamping Hotel and Wa no Retreat Hitoiki are worthy options to consider for a more luxurious stay!

Getting to Kaiyodo Figure Museum

By Train

From Kyoto:
Board the Local Maibara (米原) train along the Tokaido-Sanyo line (東海道山陽線) from Kyoto Station (京都駅) and disembark at Nagahama Station (長浜駅). The one-way journey takes around 75 minutes.

From Osaka:
Board the Rapid Maibara (米原) train along the Tokaido-Sanyo line (東海道山陽線) from Osaka Station (大阪駅) and disembark at Nagahama Station (長浜駅). The one-way journey takes around 100 minutes.

From the station, simply walk for about 15 minutes to Kurokabe Square (黒壁スクエアー) and the museum will be inside the shopping arcade. If you have the Kansai Wide Area Pass, then it will cover the entire train ride along the Tokaido-Sanyo line. The Kansai Wide Area Pass covers the JR rail lines along Nagahama and other cities along Lake Biwa; as well as the access to other areas around the Kansai region.

This is a great option to consider for cost savings if you are visiting Nagahama along with other areas around Kansai including Himeji (姫路), another city known for its authentic castle) and Koyasan (高野山), a sacred area known for its majestic temples.

By Car

This was the method my wife and I explored Nagahama and we didn’t regret getting a car. This allows us to park within the old town and also explore attractions that are slightly further from the city center such as the Nagahama Biwako Daibutsu (長浜びわこ大仏).

Moveover, HAVING a car allows us to explore other cities around Lake Biwa such as Otsu (大津), Hikone (彦根) & Omihachiman (近江八幡) which are equally as attractive and would have been harder to reach just by relying on the infrequent public transportation. Keen in renting a car for your next Japan road trip? Check out Tocoo for more info here.

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Uncovering Kaiyodo Figure Museum: Japan’s Quirky Stop for Curious Travelers

Kaiyodo Figure Museum Travel Guide

A Little Bit of Background About Kaiyodo

But First, Stay Connected with Portable Wifi!