Trip to Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum

Fujiko·F·Fujio's beloved characters find a permanent home in the Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum in Kawasaki, a short train ride from Central Tokyo. Doraemon, Dorami, Nobita, Pāman and their colorful friends are all Fujiko's creations. Fujiko Fujio is the nom de plume for Fujimoto Hiroshi and work partner, Motoo Abiko. In 1987 the Fujiko Fujio partnership was dissolved and Fujiko·F·Fujio came to be, launching a new era of children's manga. The museum is centralized around Fujimoto's life and works with the use of exhibits, sculptures, short films and more. It is truly a delight for longtime fans of these manga. Even for those not entirely familiar with these characters, the exhibits provide a great introduction to these new friends.

Doraemon is the robotic cat from the future with a 4D magical pocket from which he extracts wondrous inventions to help his buddy Nobita-kun. This loveable blue feline is surely the most popular character of Fujiko·F·Fujio's creations. Doraemon is found all over the museum. Be sure to look in every nook and cranny as there are secret surprises throughout the rooms. An audio guide is provided to fully enjoy the exhibits, guidance is available in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.

Certainly one of the major attractions of the museum is the themed café. Before meandering about the outdoor play area, visit the restaurant and put in a reservation. During busy periods the restaurant will have a very long wait (over two hours). Dining options include Ankipan French toast (fans of the Doraemon series will know that this is "memory bread"), Dorayaki (Doraemon's favorite red bean-filled pastries) and seasonal Hawaiian Fair 2013 items. (Hawaiian Fair 2013 will run from July 1 - August 31.) Even the dishware is themed with Doraemon and friends, which are now available for purchase in the gift shop due to popular request.

Buying tickets to the Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum must be done in advance at a Lawson's convenience store via Loppi machine. The machines are only operational in Japanese but English language directions can be found online. Purchase tickets at least two weeks in advance of your preferred visit date.

Transport yourself into the world of Fujiko·F·Fujio's world and spend a few hours filled with wonder and happiness.