Izu Teddy Bear Museum

The Izu Teddy Bear Museum, located near Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture, boasts a remarkable collection of rare bears from all over the world. 

Permanent exhibition

The museum features two main exhibitions spread across two floors. At the main reception downstairs, a giant bear will greet you. As you walk around the ground floor, you’ll discover a variety of antique bears and learn about their unique histories.

On the upper floor, you’ll discover an original Studio Ghibli exhibition showcasing plushies from the beloved film My Neighbor Totoro. You can step inside a life-sized Cat Bus and see a giant Totoro plushie watching over you. There are also several interactive displays, including a snoring Totoro and replicas of iconic scenes from the film.

Workshop

One of the museum’s highlights is the workshop, where you can create your own teddy bear or Totoro plushie to take home. Each session takes around 60 minutes and costs ¥6,380 per person. There are only 12 spaces available per session, so you need to reserve a spot in advance via PassMarket. Note that you will need a Yahoo! PassMarket account to do this which requires a Japanese phone number and card. We recommend doing this as soon as possible before your visit, as spaces fill up super fast!

If you’re fortunate, a cancellation may occur on the day of your visit, allowing you to grab a last-minute spot. The announcement is normally made in Japanese, so make sure to ask one of the staff members to double-check for open seats.

Museum facilities

In addition to the main museum and the upstairs workshop, there’s a shop selling teddy bear and Studio Ghibli-themed merchandise, along with a charming tea room, and a cookie shop. Note that the shop, tea room, and cookie shop are all accessible without an admission fee.

How to buy tickets for the Izu Teddy Bear Museum

You can buy tickets on the day. They cost ¥1,500 for adults, ¥1,000 for junior and senior high-school students, and ¥800 for elementary school students. You can also buy tickets online, which is sometimes a bit cheaper (around ¥100 less).

How to get there

The Izu Teddy Bear Museum is 10 minutes away from Izu-Kōgen Station. To get to Izu-Kōgen Station from Tokyo, you can take the Shinkansen (via Atami), or the fancy Odoriko express train. You can also take the Odakyu Line down from Shinjuku to Odawara, and then transfer to the Izukyu Line.

If you’re driving from Tokyo, take the Tomei Atsugi IC, then the Odawara Atsugi Road, followed by the Odawara (Ishibashi IC), Atami (Atami Beach Line), and National Route 135 to reach Izu Kogen. Free parking is available on the museum grounds.

Things to do nearby

The museum is situated in a somewhat secluded area, but there are a few cafés and small museums nearby. If you are willing to take a bus, you can visit other areas such as the picturesque Jogasaki Coast.