Karakuri Exhibition Hall
museum
Karakuri Exhibition Hall
からくり展示館
Overview
The mechanical dolls (zashiki karakuri ningyo) on display in the Karakuri Exhibition Hall are early forms of robots and have been used to entertain people for hundreds of years.
The karakuri ningyo on display here are wooden mechanical dolls built between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, using systems of cogwheels, springs, and pulleys to produce lifelike movement. The larger festival float dolls were made for the Inuyama Festival, held each April since 1635, where teams of seven or eight people on the second story of parade floats operate dolls performing mythological scenes overhead. The smaller zashiki karakuri were collected as luxury toys by the elite. The most well-known type served tea: it would move forward, bow, and stop when the cup was removed. The mechanism was powered by a spring made from whale whisker. Live demonstrations are held on weekends.
Local tips
The cafe or rest area inside is usually a welcome break mid-visit. Budget 90 minutes minimum.
Practical info
- Japanese name
- からくり展示館
- Nearest station
- Inuyama Station (12 min walk)
- Payment
- Cards accepted
- Reservations
- Advance tickets available online and at convenience stores. Walk-in usually fine on weekdays. Check hours before visiting.
Accessibility
Good for
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