Konnichiwa!! (_)
During my last visit to the land of the rising sun, I decided to visit the Fujio F. Fujiko museum. At first, I was torn between the Tokyo Castle and the Doraemon museum but in the end I found myself queuing at the Lawson convenient store to buy the entrance ticket for this museum. It costs me one thousand yen per ticket.
This is not my solo trip, it just happened that I have to stay one extra day in Tokyo since I have to activate my JR pass one day later from my other travel buddies. My travel buddies has left one day earlier to Osaka. So I am ALL alone !
Actually, I never heard much about the museum but I watched Doraemon since I was a small kid. I used to sketch Doraemon a lot I have read tons of Doraemon comics collection in my entire life. In fact, I am considered as a 'Retired' Otaku in the Japanese context. I still love comics but not as obsessed with it as compared to my younger days.
(JR Pass is the Shinkansen pass for 7 days)
Just like the other traveler, I rely hugely on my google map to decide which route to be used. The information centre has recommended me to take the shuttle bus service run from Noborito Station (Odakyu line or JR Nanbu line), but for some reason my google map has showed me to stop at Mukougaoka Yuen station of Odakyu-line and walk towards the museum for about 16 minutes.
Everything seems well until I realized that I lost my way to Mukougaoka Yuen station. I think I was taking the wrong line and I was in the middle of nowhere. With my basic command in Japanese, I was trying to get help from the local, luckily one beautiful lady was kind enough to translate my 'problem' to the train guy. Ta-da!!! my problem was solved. I begin to notice that Japanese people are one of the most helpful and polite, even to a stranger like me. That thought alone has brought warm feelings in my roller coaster day.
Along the way, I get to know another aunty from the Kawasaki neighbourhood. She said she will accompany me to find the museum, so sweet right? Lols.. Suddenly it felt like an adventure. You can see the exhaustion written all over my face after all the trouble that I got myself into. I was tired from dragging my luggage bag all the way from Tokyo to Kawasaki.
Do you know that the neighbourhood area in the comic was inspired by Mr Fujio F. Fujiko's own hometown? The tour started with the gallery which you can see all his earlier masterpiece. Do you know that Doraemon comic was supposed to be in COLOUR?? but due to the printing problems and budget constraint, the comic was printed mostly in black and white.
After that, there was a short video played in the theatre before the outdoor park and cafe.
I rewarded myself with some snacks available in the museum cafe. The food was delicious and cute.
After the long tiring day, the Rooftop Playground was the perfect place to snap some pictures with all the Doraemon characters.
At last, I bought one of the comic selection of love stories as a gift for myself.
In the end, I was satisfied with the amazing experience and I am grateful to the few ladies who had helped me during the journey. I would never be able to find the museum without their help. I was lucky!!!
Sayonara for now.