What other travelers are saying about Towel Museum, Imabari
A large 19th century european style building with around 4-6 floors? each floor had a shop or 2 selling towels or souvenirs and then the top floor consists of more towel shops, a cafe/restaurant , the towel museum entrance and the entrance to the outside garden.
Prices of towels in each shop are similar/same with some minor differences for certain sizes. But prices here are about the same or more expensive than outside/online.
We didnt actually visit the museum as we felt like it was a bit expensive - you could buy a small towel for the entrance fee price and it didnt feel like there was much to do in the museum.
On the other hand, we took a stroll at the outside rooftop garden and it was actually quite nice. It wasnt too small and it was extremely quiet so it was perfect for photos.
parking is free and they have 2 parking lots.
The Towel Museum is the world's first and only museum dedicated entirely to towels. It showcases Imabari's towel-making heritage, a city responsible for producing approximately 60% of Japan's domestic towels. The museum combines industrial history with artistic displays, featuring towel art installations and demonstrations of traditional weaving techniques that highlight why Imabari towels are considered among the finest in the world.
Yes, the museum features an extensive gift shop offering authentic Imabari towels in various designs, colors, sizes, and price ranges. This is one of the best places to purchase genuine Imabari towels directly from the source region, and staff can explain the quality differences between various products to help visitors make informed purchases.
The museum is accessible via local bus from Imabari Station, with the journey taking approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Alternatively, visitors can take a taxi or rent a car. The museum provides parking facilities for those driving, which is convenient for travelers exploring the Shimanami Kaido area.
The museum offers interactive displays where visitors can touch and compare different towel qualities to understand what distinguishes Imabari towels. Workshops teaching basic weaving techniques are occasionally available, though these may require advance booking. It's advisable to check the museum's schedule before visiting if you're interested in participating in hands-on activities.
Admission to the Towel Museum is approximately 800 yen for adults. Reduced rates are available for children and senior citizens. The ticket provides access to all exhibition areas, interactive displays, and towel art installations throughout the museum.
Visited for the time limited exhibitions on Snoopy and Moomin, and was pretty entertained by the experience. They really used towels to build every exhibit to showcase the quality and ability of the material. The museum shop has a fine selection of locally made towels. A fun visit!
An art museum centred mainly around towels since this is Imabari, the town famous for towels. Admission is on the 4th floor just take the escalator up. It currently has theme of Snoopy/Peanuts and Moomin.
The shops sells all sorts of towels, including themes like mofusand, pokemon, etc
The paid area is actually decent if you like Moomin, 2nd floor has a pretty good local snacks and drinks souvenir shop. Otherwise there’s only a few fabric-based items that are actually from Imabari, most items, especially the character goods, are made in China or Vietnam. Quality looks well made, but if you are looking for local goods, please check all the tags before purchasing.
At first, I thought, “How fun can a towel museum actually be?”
But this museum really surprised us! It was much bigger than I expected and there was so much to see. The shop alone is huge, filled with lots of fun items mostly towel-related products, but also plenty of plushies and character goods.
Overall, the museum was far more enjoyable and interesting than I imagined. We had a great time!
