The Fukasawa Tiny Museum preserves the gnome-like carvings created by sculptor Akimitsu Tomonaga for “The Tale of Purinpurin,” a Japanese TV show. (Kelly Agee/For Stars and Stripes)
The Fukasawa Tiny Museum, west of Yokota Air Base in the mountains of Akiruno city, is home to an enchanting collection of wooden figures — large and small — familiar to Japanese TV viewers from 45 years ago.
The museum preserves the gnome-like carvings — known as the Zizi Forest Fairies — created by sculptor Akimitsu Tomonaga for “The Tale of Purinpurin.” The NHK puppet show followed Princess Purinpurin and her friends around the world in search of her hometown. It was broadcast in Japan from 1979 to 1982.
Fukasawa Tiny Museum is a private museum that’s a 15-minute walk from Ajisai Mountain, known for its 10,000 hydrangeas.
Fukasawa Tiny Museum in Akiruno, Japan, is surrounded by greenery and koi ponds built by sculptor Akimitsu Tomonaga. (Kelly Agee/For Stars and Stripes)
As guests enter the short trail to the museum, they are greeted by wooden Zizi Forest Fairies. The gravel trail is surrounded by greenery and koi ponds built by Tomonaga. It is truly a fairytale setting — a great place to get away from the bustling streets of Tokyo.
Before entering the museum, guests exchange their shoes for slippers. The museum displays are only in Japanese, so have a smartphone camera translation app ready.
The Fukasawa Tiny Museum preserves the gnome-like carvings created by sculptor Akimitsu Tomonaga for “The Tale of Purinpurin,” a Japanese TV show. (Kelly Agee/For Stars and Stripes)
The museum has about 100 puppets from the show. Their amazing details have been well preserved since their stint on television.
The collection includes 50 handmade works — wooden carvings, block prints and lamps. Everything in the museum was created out of wood, paper or stone. Most of the carvings are nature-themed, including dioramas of the ZiZi Forest Fairies in wooden huts in the forest and carvings of animals.
After exploring the museum, guests can take a break for hot or cold coffee or tea in the museum’s cafe. The drinks are served with a complimentary sweet potato pastry. All the wooden tables and chairs were handmade by Akimitsu.
It was nice to sit outside beside the koi pond and enjoy the sounds of nature while sipping tea.
Fukasawa Tiny Museum is a private museum that’s a 15-minute walk from Ajisai Mountain, known for its 10,000 hydrangeas. (Kelly Agee/For Stars and Stripes)
On the QT
Directions: A 30-minute drive from Yokota Air Base, Japan, at 492 Fukasawa, Akiruno, Tokyo 190-0172.
Times: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Tuesday.
Costs: 500 yen
Food: An onsite cafe serves beverages with a complimentary sweet potato pastry.
Information: 042-595-0336
