Karuizawa Picturebook Museum

Art museum · Karuizawa

Karuizawa Picturebook Museum

Art museum · Karuizawa

182 Nagakura, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0111, Japan

Highlights

Discover a charming wooded estate in Karuizawa, where illustrated children's books and historic exhibits come to life across cozy cottages.

182 Nagakura, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0111, Japan Get directions

museen.org

@erz_karuizawa

@atlasobscura

12 Secrets Hidden in the Woods

"Nestled snugly in Japan’s fairytale Forest of Muse is the Karuizawa Ehon-no Mori Bijutsukan, the Karuizawa Picture Book Forest Museum. Inspired by the verdant landscape of the Forest of Muse, a Scottish missionary named A.C. Shaw built a home in the forest in 1886, as it reminded him of his European roots. Growing from this humble beginning the Karuizawa Picture Book Forest Museum now holds 6,000 items across three buildings. The collection consists largely of western works of pictorial literature and children’s books including a number of first editions and rare printings. In addition to the books themselves there are a number of pieces of ephemera such as original illustrations. The museum grounds also include a book shop and a garden shop which, along with the exhibition buildings themselves, are arrayed around a large central garden where visitors can can relax with their newfound books. Situated directly across the street from its sister institution, Karuizawa Erz Toy Museum, the Picture Book Museum in Karuizawa is the perfect destination for travelers or families looking to enjoy a peaceful day mixing a little history with their nostalgia." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/secrets-hidden-in-the-woods

View Postcard for Karuizawa Picturebook Museum

Meep Y

Google

The most lovely way to spend the afternoon in Karuizawa! There are 4 exhibits in total to visit, along with the garden and the picture book library. The books are lovingly curated according to the season. The natural sunlight streaming through the windows will make you feel right at ease.

c l s

Google

It's a cute little place...but unless you really like picture books or something, I would recommend taking the time to come here.

J Lee

Google

A great place for a quiet day trip. There's a place for reading thousands of picture books in multiple languages, which is where families with young children (and solo adults) could spend hours reading. There was an exhibit on the history of picture books. All the explanations were in Japanese, but many of the texts themselves were in English. In addition, exhibits on Beatrix Potter and a special exhibit on American picture books meant that we spent a fair amount of time wandering around. Finally, the picture book shop was very fun. The books were from all around the world, and in both English and Japanese.

Mark Chih

Google

Nice little museum with pair ticket for toy museum across the street

George Hansen

Google

Great to hang out with small children. Many books, also in English, great park to run around.

オフィシャルGLBゆめみ野-ガレージハウス-

Google

絵本の旅で訪れました。貴重な絵本が多数展示されており、作者のストーリーも含めてじっくり楽しむことができます。展示は大人向けのものも多く、見応えがありますが、子供連れだと難しいタイミングがあるかも知れません。また、絵本を展示する建物もそれぞれテーマ性があり、興味深い設えとなっています。特に第一展示館と第二展示館は絵本の世界観を再現するという意図が強く感じられました。第一展示館、第二展示館それぞれ素晴らしい建築なのですが、個人的には第一展示館の素朴な美しさに感銘を受けました。大人だけであれば2時間程度は時間をとることをオススメします。

七面鳥放浪記

Google

日本におけるピーターラビット研究の第一人者である吉田新一を名誉顧問としていた美術館ですが、ピーターラビット一辺倒ではなく、西洋の古い絵本などを幅広く所蔵しています。西洋風の庭園に三つの展示艦があって、庭園を散策しつつ展示館を回る趣向です。館内には子供向けと思しき注意書きもあるものの、展示は子供向けではありません。大人が訪れたところで懐かしい作品に出会えるわけでもありません。「絵本」という言葉から想起されるライトなイメージよりも、「西洋児童書の美術館」と説明したほうがしっくり来ます。テーマパーク的な要素は皆無で、小さなお子さんであれば向かいの「エルツおもちゃの博物館」のほうが楽しめそうです。私も子供の頃に親しんだ「モチモチの木」「１１匹のねこ」「ぐりとぐら」あたりを想起しつつ訪れたので楽しみきれなかったものの、そういう施設だと理解したうえで訪れるのであれば良いところだと思います。

M A

Google

子ども（未就学児）が本好きなので来ました。子ども大人を問わず、本好きにはかなり楽しい空間だと思います。読める本の半分以上は英語表記なので、英語が読める人だとより楽しさが高まると思います。園内を散歩するだけでも楽しいので、天気が良い日は外の休憩所でのんびり過ごすのも良いと思います。雨の日でも楽しめますが、晴れの日だとより良い体験を得られるでしょう。車椅子やベビーカーでも園内の大半は問題なく通れます。一部の扉は通りにくいのでサポートをしてくれる方と一緒のほうが良いと思います。本に興味を持ってくれる子どもなら９０分〜１２０分くらいは楽に過ごせると思います。