Jan 13, 2014 - 1 min read

American Teddy Bear Museum, Kobe [Closed]

Cute teddy bears in an American house built in 1920

By Manish Prabhune

Community writer

The American Teddy Bear Museum in Kobe is a 2-floor house with the 2nd floor being stuffed with toys contributed by many artists and toy makers.

An old-style typewriter which my daughter definitely wanted to try out. Being of the touch screen-iPad generation, my daughter was surprised by the tough mechanical keys which require so much effort produce a letter.

Toys other than teddy bears on the first floor of the museum

A picture frame of the American Teddy Bear Museum at the entrance

The museum is unique since you can play with the stuffed toys on display with no restrictions on taking snaps inside the house.

Memories from the American Teddy Bear Museum: a thank you note and a post card we bought

Antique furniture including the ceiling fans have been preserved.

The American-style kitchen where you can get a feeling of how life was at that time; the oven, retro-style telephones etc.

The stuffed bears in many forms are a pleasure not only for kids; I got involved, too, as we started to explore the museum.

Archived content

The location on this page has been reported permanently closed.

Last updated: Mar 15, 2023

If you have a daughter who loves stuffed toys and teddy bears and you are in Kobe, do not miss the American Teddy Bear Museum hidden in the Kitano area. A wooden house built by a merchant in the 1920's has been converted into a museum and me and my daughter had a great time there on a Saturday afternoon. Not only the teddy bears but many other toys and a classical American-style kitchen were a unique experience for her. The staff gives out handwritten messages as a token of thanks, and the best part is that you can bring along your coffee from the nearby Starbucks and enjoy it on the terrace of the museum, as food and drinks are allowed! Make sure to call the museum before you visit (078-252-3645), as they tend to stay closed sometimes without notice.