Autumn 2025. We – Sam and Danny, Michel and Wille, and Timothy – are travelling to Japan for a quite classic tour of the Land of the Rising Sun. We are flying separately as we used miles. On the planning: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawa, Osaka, and Expo 2025, Hiroshima, Himeji, Miyajima, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Hakone, and back to Tokyo. Three weeks plus some extra days.
Prior to the group trip, I – Timothy – am solo in Tokyo. Using artificial intelligence, I concocted a busy four days featuring Ito on the Izu Peninsula and Sawara, also known as Little Edo. I also end this Journey Across Japan with a solo spell in Minato, near Taito and Tamachi Station.
Be critical of ChatGPT. It kept telling me the Izu Teddy Bear Museum is in Ito. It’s not, it’s in Izu-Kōgen. That is the nearest railway station at least.
In season 12 of Jet Lag: The Game, ‘Hide + Seak: Japan‘, Ben Doyle goes to Ito on Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture and visits the Izu Teddy Bear Museum. You can watch the show on YouTube.
As I wanted to see more rural Japan, and I do love stuffed toys, I decided to go there on a day trip.
So from Ito or Itō I took a train to Izu-Kōgen abnd walked to the museum.
The Izu Teddy Bear Museum
The Izu Teddy Bear Museum (伊豆テディベア·ミュージアム) is a delightful destination located in Izu-Kōgen, at 1064-2 Yawatano. With its charming English-country-house architecture, the museum offers visitors a warm and whimsical experience amid its dedicated collection of teddy bears and plush-toy art.
Inside the museum, you’ll find around one thousand teddy bears, spanning antique and contemporary pieces. Among the most notable items is an early-1900s Steiff bear known as ‘Teddy Girl‘ (circa 1904), which stands out as a historically significant piece.
These bears are displayed in imaginative dioramas and scenes that entertain visitors of all ages. Additionally, the museum frequently hosts special exhibitions — recent themes have included works connected to Studio Ghibli, such as ‘My Neighbor Totoro‘, and life-size photo-friendly installations, for example a climbable Catbus.
To complement the display rooms, the museum also offers hands-on teddy-making workshops (including Totoro- or bear-themed sessions), enriching the experience for visitors seeking something more interactive.
The museum is open daily from 9:30 AM until 5 PM, with the last entry permitted at 16:30. Standard admission is ¥1,500 for adults, ¥1,000 for junior and senior high school students and ¥800 for elementary school children; children under school age and those aged 75 or over are admitted free of charge.
Conveniently, there is free parking (about 170 spaces) for visitors arriving by car, and the gift shop and tearoom can also be accessed without purchasing museum entry.
In the tearoom, Teddy’s Garden, one can relax and enjoy cakes, scones and themed treats, making it an ideal place to pause during the visit.
Photographing the museum’s interior is generally allowed — the official FAQ states that guests may take pictures as long as other visitors are not disturbed — though some special exhibits might occasionally impose temporary restrictions. For those travelling with a small dog, the museum permits pets only if carried in a suitable carrier.
Access to the museum is straightforward: a short ten-minute walk from Izu-Kōgen Station on the Izu Kyūkō Line makes it easily reachable for those arriving by train, typically via limited-express or Odoriko services from Tokyo.
For a relaxed visit, one should allow around one to two hours; this extends naturally if you plan to participate in a workshop or spend time photographing the displays. The tearoom is quite popular, so arriving early or leaving extra time to enjoy your refreshments is a good idea. If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli-style displays, it’s worth checking the museum’s website ahead of time to discover which special exhibition is currently running.
So?
The Izu Teddy Bear Museum is criminally cute. Maybe it’s a bit a faff to include a visit in your Japan trip. It’s not must-see. But it’s só sweet and cute.
I certainly do not regret the excursion at all.
2025 Journey Across Japan
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- Brussels Airport to Milan Malpensa with Brussels Airlines, operated by Air Baltic, ft. the 2025 check-in and boarding software hack.
- REVIEW | Sala Montale Exclusive Lounge and Sala Gae Aulentin Premium Lounge at Milan Malpensa Airport, extra Schengen.
- REVIEW | All Nippon Airways (ANA), Business Class, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Tokyo.
- REVIEW | Toei Animation Museum in Nerima, Tokyo.
- JAPAN | Tokyo Station, its Character Street and Pokémon Store.
- REVIEW | Onyado Nono Asakusa Hotel in Tokyo.
- TOKYO | Asakusa ft. Sensō-ji Temple.
- JAPAN | The Odoriko train from Tokyo to Ito on Izu Peninsula.