While it could be some time before we get to visit Japan, we can certainly keep the new Play Museum in Tokyo on our radar. Located in Tachikawa, the new children’s facility opened on 10 June 2020 at the Green Springs futuristic cultural city.
It includes an art museum, which currently features an exhibition featuring Eric Carle’s children’s book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, and an indoor children’s play space.
Play Museum is centre around the theme of pictures and words. It occupied two floors with a Museum space at the lower level and a Play Park on the upper floor.
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Play Museum in Tokyo, Tachikawa
The museum area is open for everyone, both children and adults alike, to enjoy. The permanent exhibition space introduces famous picture book writers while a separate section is set aside for creators and artists.
The inaugural permanent exhibition is based on the work of Eric Karl, the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
According to exhibition’s curator, Daisuke Kuskari, the exhibition at Tokyo’s Play Museum is intended to provide new ways to enjoy the well-loved book, allowing visitors to step into a picture book setting. It will remain on display till March 2021.
Alongside the permanent exhibition is a special exhibition “Tupera Tupera”. This runs till December 2020. Visitors can step behind the artworks and become part of the many funny faces that form the exhibition.
Play Park
The upper floor of the Play Museum in Tokyo is dedicated to indoor play and workshops.
It was intended to have seven different play zones, including a balloon monster playground developed by the Tezuka Laboratory, Department of Architecture, Tokyo City University. These plans have currently been suspended for the time being due to COVID-19.
With the current COVID-19 situation, other measure have also be put in place to restrict the number of visitors and programmes being conducted.
Themed Food
The Play Museum in Tokyo also has a café which makes use of locally-sourced produce from Tachikawa.
There are cute, thematically curated dishes such as this Harappeko caterpillar sandwich which ties in with the current permanent exhibition …
… and this Kao curry dish created to coincide with the “Tupera Tupera” exhibition.
We are looking forward to the COVID-19 situation improving in the future and hopefully being able to pay a visit to the Play Museum one day soon.
