Izu Teddy Bear Museum Tickets

In the resort district of Izukogen on the Izu Peninsula, the Izu Teddy Bear Museum houses a serious collection of antique and artist made bears inside a storybook brick cottage, complete with a bear sized workshop and garden. It is unapologetically whimsical, and it has become one of the peninsula’s best loved wet weather and family stops.

The collection

Galleries trace the teddy bear’s history from early twentieth century German craftsmanship onward, with rare antique bears displayed alongside elaborate artist pieces and playful dioramas of bears at work and play. The detail rewards slow looking; miniature scenes hide jokes everywhere. A long running exhibition devoted to a certain beloved animation forest spirit has drawn its own pilgrimage of fans over the years, and the shop and tearoom continue the theme with more charm than cynicism.

Around Izukogen

The museum sits among the galleries, gardens and cafes that make Izukogen a gentle resort area, with the Jogasaki coast’s dramatic lava cliffs and suspension bridge a short drive away and Mt Omuro’s grassy cone nearby. Together they fill an unhurried day on the east Izu coast.

Getting there

Take the Izukyu Line to Izu-Kogen Station, reached from Atami and Ito on the JR and Izukyu network; limited express Odoriko services run through from Tokyo. The museum is about ten minutes on foot from the station’s art museum exit area.

Frequently asked questions

Is it just for children? No, collectors and design lovers make up much of the audience.

How long does a visit take? Under an hour for most, plus tearoom time.

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