What other travelers are saying about Otaru Music Box Museum
The Otaru Music Box Museum is a magical place that feels like stepping into a fairytale. The building itself has a nostalgic, historic charm, and inside you’ll find thousands of beautifully crafted music boxes in every size and style imaginable—from tiny delicate keepsakes to large, ornate pieces that look like works of art. Each one plays its own unique melody, filling the air with gentle music that creates such a warm and enchanting atmosphere.
One of the highlights is being able to design your own custom music box, choosing the tune and decoration, which makes for a very special souvenir. The staff are kind and attentive, happy to guide visitors through the displays and the DIY experience. Even if you don’t buy anything, simply wandering through the museum, listening to the melodies, and admiring the craftsmanship is an experience in itself. Located right in Otaru’s charming historic district, it’s the perfect stop to enjoy both culture and history.
A must-visit spot in Otaru for anyone who loves music, art, or simply beautiful things. 🎶✨
No entrance fee, so you can just come inside. It’s kind of not accurate to refer it as just museum, because they do sell so many things inside not just music box. Please be careful when walking through all the music box as to not drop it by accident and extraaaa careful when you’re touching the music box as to not drop it.
The music box museum has a wide variety of music such as pirates of Caribbean soundtrack, disney music, ghibli, and classical music, and it’s free to hear.
It is a three-storey building. The first floor display a wide variety of music box starting from the small ones, medium ones, big ones, and even the tiniest ones such as a wall-hanging type music box.
The second floor display just a little bit of music box. But they also display toys, dolls, and many other things. On the other side of that very second floor, you can wonder into the collection of music box that are not for sale. You can look, take a photo, hear the sounds and melody coming out from the music box, but no recording please.
The third floor is more cramp than the other two and only display a few things. They also have Ghibli things there so you might encounter totoro, ponyo, gudetama and many other.
Please just be extra careful when walking inside and watch your step when you go up and down the stairs.
The Otaru Music Box Museum is a charming spot in Otaru’s historic district. The old brick building feels magical, filled with thousands of music boxes of all shapes and sounds. You can see everything from small hand-crank boxes to large antique ones, and even try making your own in the workshop. Outside, the steam clock plays a tune every 15 minutes, adding to the atmosphere. It can get crowded, but it’s a fun and unique place for anyone who loves music, souvenirs, or just a little fairytale vibe.
This music box store or building along the Otaru Sakaimachi Shopping Street is highly popular with locals and tourists alike. It also houses, among other things, a mini museum on its upper floor where there are historical dioramas about the development of music boxes. So IMO its a worthwhile visit if you are ever in Otaru.
We discovered this place by mere chance before our trip and we decided to visit it, this way we also discovered Otaru!
The main building is beautiful outside, the inside too. Half store and half museum.
The first floor is mainly a shop with hundreds of musical boxes, ranging from simple and funny to complex and delicate. There're many people here and it can be a little overwhelming, but once you go to the second floor it gets less crowded.
The second floor have the museum section and it was so beautiful to see so many old and modern musical boxes and machines.
If you like music, you'll like this place and surely find a tune you like in one of the musical boxes!
Yes, the museum features a large shop where visitors can purchase a wide variety of music boxes, ranging from traditional to modern designs. Customization options are also available for those who wish to create a unique souvenir.
The Otaru Music Box Museum is committed to accessibility, providing facilities and services to accommodate visitors with disabilities. For specific needs or inquiries, it's best to contact the museum directly.
The museum is accessible by public transportation from central Sapporo. Visitors can take the JR Hakodate Line to Otaru Station and then walk or take a short taxi ride to the museum.
Yes, the area around the museum has a variety of dining options, ranging from casual cafes to traditional Japanese restaurants. Visitors can enjoy local Hokkaido cuisine and international dishes within walking distance of the museum.
