Kurashiki Sanyo-do stands in a corner of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter . The sight of the Victor dogs lined up on the roof is a popular photo spot. Inside the building are four small museums that display valuable collections.
2025.05.14-
Table of Contents
- What is Kurashiki Sanyodo?
- A big dog greets you
- Antique Mall
- Piggy Bank Museum – The history of Japanese savings culture
- A balcony passage where you can experience a Showa townhouse
- Dog Museum – A mecca for Nipper dog collections
- Toy Museum – Tracing the history of toys in Japan
- Summary – Hidden gems of Kurashiki tourism
What is Kurashiki Sanyodo?
On the south side of "Kurashiki Ivy Square" (a tourist complex renovated from a historic spinning mill), along the road stands "Kurashiki Sanyodo", a shop with a unique atmosphere. On the roof, many Victor dogs, Nipper, are lined up together.
The owner, Yasuda, is passionate about collecting "Nipper," a dog figurine that became the mascot character for the audio equipment manufacturer Victor (now JVC). These are not for sale and are given as a bonus when purchasing products, and are modeled after "Nipper," a real British dog from the late 19th century. The distinctive head-tilted pose is said to represent the dog listening to the voice of its deceased owner coming from a gramophone.
A big dog greets you
A large dog sculpture welcomes customers at the store's entrance. Yasuda loves dogs and started collecting nippers. This giant dog sculpture was made as the store's mascot, following the wishes of a fellow collector he had known for many years. Made of reinforced plastic, it stands an imposing 2.7 meters tall, but somehow it blends in with the nippers on the roof.
Antique Mall
When you enter the building, the first thing you'll see is the antique mall (free admission). There are about 40 antique dealers from a variety of genres, and a wide range of collections are lined up in a small space, from antique art to retro toys, dolls, and anime character goods. The space feels like opening a treasure chest, and it's full of fun searching for bargains.
It is also a hidden gem that is regularly visited by collectors from all over Japan.
The shop is filled from floor to ceiling with items that evoke the scent of the era, and there are many treasures, such as retro lighting fixtures, that you'll want to pick up right away.
Piggy Bank Museum – The history of Japanese savings culture
If you go up the stairs from the Antique Mall to the second floor, you will find the Piggy Bank Museum (paid area), which displays about 3,000 Japanese piggy banks from the Meiji period (1868-1912) to the present day.
It is said that in Japan, piggy banks began in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), when people saved money in earthenware jars. Piggy banks with various designs, created to reflect the trends and culture of the time, are valuable documents that tell the story of Japanese social history. Many people will be able to reunite with their nostalgic piggy banks from their childhood.
Particularly eye-catching is a piggy bank in the shape of Tokyo Skytree (a 634m tall radio tower completed in 2012), which has a large capacity that can hold over 600,000 yen in 500 yen coins. There are also other unusual items on display, such as a pig-shaped piggy bank made by the luxury jewelry brand Tiffany.
A balcony passage where you can experience a Showa townhouse
To get to the Dog Museum on the second floor, you first have to go out onto the balcony and then move to the next room from the outside. This unique flow of movement is a rare opportunity to experience traditional Kurashiki townhouse architecture from the Showa period (1926-1989). Walking along the atmospheric wooden exterior corridor, you can get a feel for the traditional Japanese residential style.
Dog Museum – A mecca for Nipper dog collections
The "Dog Museum" (fee required) is a specialized museum that collects merchandise related to Victor's character "Nipper." The owner, Mr. Yasuda, has carefully collected 2-5 dogs each year since the 1980s, and the collection has now grown to nearly 100 dogs.
According to Yasuda, he is aiming to collect 101 figures in reference to the Disney animation "101 Dalmatians," and is just one figure away from achieving that goal (not including the large dog sculpture in the entrance hall)! We are looking forward to the day when his collection is complete.
Nippers of all sizes are a nostalgic sight that could be found in many Japanese homes during the Showa period. All of the dogs have the same facial expression, but their distinctive head-tilted poses capture the hearts of viewers, and each one shows a lively expression.
Toy Museum – Tracing the history of toys in Japan
The Toy Museum (fee required) displays over 3,000 Japanese-made toys from the Edo period (1603-1868) through the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods. This valuable collection offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of Japanese toys, from traditional wooden toys from the Edo period to toys featuring popular anime characters from the Showa period.
Visitors are sure to find toys from their own era and feel a sense of nostalgia. The price tags and advertising materials on display also offer a glimpse into the monetary values and lifestyles of the time.
The "Super Alloy Robot" series, which was particularly popular among boys in the Showa era, and character goods symbolizing the era are items that evoke memories of youth for Japanese people. Through these exhibits, you can feel the development of Japan's postwar toy industry and the changes in culture.
Summary – Hidden gems of Kurashiki tourism
If you come across Kurashiki Sanyodo while strolling through the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter , you'll want to take a photo right away. If you're curious about what the interior looks like, but are hesitant to go in, be sure to give it a try. The four mini museums, filled with nostalgia and surprises, will be a wonderful experience that will deepen your understanding of Japanese culture.
From the "Dog Museum" on the second floor, you can get a close-up look at the backs of the Nipper dogs lined up on the roof. This is a hidden tourist spot in Kurashiki where you can learn about modern Japanese history and culture in a fun way.
[Kurashiki Sanyodo]
Address: 1224 Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture
TEL: 086-425-4577 (Purchases only: 0120-177-237)
Business hours: 10:30-17:00
Closed: Thursday
Admission fee: 300 yen for high school students and above, 200 yen for junior high school students and below, free for preschoolers (for the Piggy Bank Museum, Dog Museum, and Toy Museum)
Parking: 5 spaces (west side of the store)
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