A Family Welcome at Tokyo National Museum
A museum visit with little ones is easier when there is room to take a break. On April 21, 2026, Tokyo National Museum opened a Family Space supported by MIKI HOUSE on the first floor of its Heiseikan building.
Created for children ages 0–6 and their guardians, the wood-toned space includes picture books, plush toys and wall-mounted activities. It gives families a comfortable pause between encounters with Japan's art and history.
Room for a child's pace
The partnership supports the museum's ambition to welcome people of different ages and backgrounds. MIKI HOUSE was involved from the design stage, helping create a quiet resting area screened from general visitor traffic. The intention is to make a cultural outing more comfortable for families who need time to pause.
Museum characters Tohaku-kun and Yurinoki-chan appear alongside MIKI HOUSE's Pucchi and Usako, bringing familiar, child-friendly details into the museum setting.
Picture Book Corner
At opening, the picture-book corner held approximately 200 books, including MIKI HOUSE's Kenji Miyazawa Picture Book Series. House-shaped wooden shelves and soft toys give the reading area a welcoming feel, inviting children and their guardians to settle in with a story before continuing their visit.
Wall Toys
Four kinds of wall-mounted toys offer hands-on activities alongside the books. Children can explore colorful gears and pieces that move along tracks, adding a moment of play to a day of discovery. The panels bring a different kind of activity into the same restful space.
A closer look at Japanese craftsmanship
A MIKI HOUSE Special Exhibition within the same venue introduces GOLD LABEL pieces, artisan-made baby shoes and traditional lacquerwork. Videos in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean help visitors explore the techniques behind the pieces.
The exhibition extends beyond clothing. Its opening selection included okuizome ceremonial tableware and kabuto helmets made with Wajima-nuri lacquerwork from Ishikawa Prefecture, alongside GOLD LABEL and artisan-made baby shoes. Together, these pieces invite visitors to consider how traditional skills continue in objects created for children and family milestones.
The exhibition has no age restriction, and its displays are scheduled to change several times a year.
The project followed the museum's early-2026 “Playground!” event, where MIKI HOUSE mini towels were given to the first 3,000 guardians visiting with preschool children. The new space makes that welcome part of the museum visit itself.
About Tokyo National Museum
Founded in 1872, Tokyo National Museum is located in Ueno, Tokyo. Its collections offer a setting for exploring Japanese art and history, while the Family Space makes room for younger visitors within that cultural experience.
For U.S. families visiting Japan, including those sharing their heritage with a new generation, the project connects a cultural outing with practical care for young children.
Address: 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8712, Japan.
Family Space: First floor of the Heiseikan building, for children ages 0–6 and their guardians.
Consult Tokyo National Museum for current opening information before planning a visit.
Adapted for MIKI HOUSE USA from MIKI HOUSE Global News, originally published 2026-04-24. Photography: MIKI HOUSE.