From January 21 to March 29, the Matsumoto City Museum of Art will be hosting the 60th annual Sanrio Exhibition. Sanrio began as a silk manufacturer in 1960, and quickly realized that they could increase their sales by adding cute designs such as flowers or characters. Most notably, Sanrio created Hello Kitty in 1974. This exhibit not only explores the history of Hello Kitty and her contributions to Japanese culture over the past five decades, but also dives into the evolution of Japan’s “kawaii” culture as a whole.
The Yayoi Kusama birthplace
The internationally acclaimed avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama was born in Matsumoto City in 1929. As a tribute to her work, the Matsumoto City Museum of Art has a permanent installation dedicated to her art. As a child, Kusama’s family owned a seed farm and plant nursery. This, combined with the vivid hallucinations and mental health issues Kusama has struggled with throughout her life, inspired much of her work. Kusama is best known for her use of polka dots and her many depictions of pumpkins and other flora. The museum is currently displaying her collection, “The Place for my Soul”. This collection will only be available for viewing here in Kusama’s birthplace, and contains everything from her early works up to “My Eternal Soul,” her most recent series.
The museum is located a short 15 minute walk from Matsumoto Station (Castle Exit / East Exit) near Agatanomori Park. The park features several walking paths, a pond, and plenty of seating, making it an ideal place to relax. It also offers the opportunity to learn a bit more about the history of Matsumoto with the historic Taisho-era high school and library buildings located on the property.
The Sanrio Exhibition
The Sanrio exhibit is located on the second floor and costs \1,600 for adults, \1,000 for junior high and high school students, and \800 for elementary school students. There is a \200 discount for those who purchase a ticket in advance from the museum’s website. Children younger than elementary school age may enter for free. It should be noted that the exhibit is entirely in Japanese, but with the help of a translation app this is no problem.
The exhibit includes paraphernalia and merchandise from throughout Sanrio’s history, such as cutlery and dishes, articles of clothing, and figurines and keychains. There is also a room with a space dedicated to some of the more popular of Sanrio’s more than 400 characters, including My Melodie, Patty and Jimmy, Tuxedo Sam, and more. Further on in the exhibit, there is a section dedicated to Sanrio’s magazine, Ichigo Shinbun (Strawberry News).
After this, Hello Kitty has an entire section of the exhibit dedicated entirely to her, where you can learn about her journey to become the internationally recognized icon that she is today.
Nearby Miso Lunch Tour
The museum is ideally located next to Ishii Miso, a local miso brewery. This factory is one of the rare places where miso is still made in the traditional way, using the natural fermentation process in wooden barrels. Our tour offers the perfect opportunity to visit their factory, see how miso is made, and enjoy a traditional miso lunch.
After the tour, your guide will bring you to the art museum and introduce you to Yayoi Kusama’s life and work. The tour does not include entrance to the museum, but at the conclusion of the tour you are welcome to visit inside on your own. If you’re staying in town, the museum is a must-see visit, especially if you are here with children.
Page Top