Explore an Indoor Theme Park with Detailed Miniature Worlds
Small Worlds is one of the largest miniature museums in Asia. Visitors of all ages can explore its exhibits of detailed miniature settings. It hosts art workshops and a 3D figure-making program, ensuring that you go home with a personalized souvenir.
The museum contains eight themed areas featuring buildings, landscapes, and people, all at 1:80 scale. The distinct areas display scenes that range from fantastical to historical. They include moving elements such as vehicles, and you can witness miniature space launches.
Small Worlds is in Ariake, on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay. It's close to Haneda Airport and accessed via the famous Rainbow Bridge. Since the museum is open almost every day, it's a great way to spend a few hours indoors, especially during bad weather.
Tips
- Get scanned in 3D and make a unique figure of yourself or your group
- Sign up to be a "resident" and have your figure placed in a Small Worlds exhibit for a year
- Bring your dog or cat on certain days of the month
Some of the intricate exhibits are snapshots of real-life locations such as NASA's Space Center during the 1960s. It shows classic cars, people dressed in vintage fashion, and the launch of the Saturn V rocket. Other dioramas are fantastical creations like the global village, which includes dragons and steampunk-style airships.
Fans of anime and manga will delight in the areas devoted to Neon Genesis Evangelion and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. There are two Evangelion-inspired areas: Tokyo-III, which recreates the city where the characters live, and the hangar, where robotic Evangelion units are prepared for launch. And Sailor Moon fans can gaze out at Azabu Juban, the Tokyo district that forms the setting for the beloved anime and manga, as well as Crystal Tokyo, a 30th century version of Tokyo depicted in the franchise.
Search the exhibits for hidden details and take pictures of yourself with miniature versions of iconic characters and locations.
The museum also offers exclusive souvenirs. At workshops, you can create dioramas and miniatures of your own. And the 3D figure-making program is a special opportunity.
A large 3D scanner scans you and creates an individualized figure at 1:80, 1:35, or 1:24 scale. The museum offers worldwide shipping or on-site pickup for the figures, which are typically completed a month after scanning. But if you're one of the first people to arrive at the museum in the morning, spring for the express plan (at additional cost) and have yours completed by the next day.
You can also become a "resident" and have your figure placed in one of the museum's exhibits for a year. In general, you can't be wearing a cosplay costume for the 3D scanning, but the museum specially offers Evangelion costumes for fans who want to become a "resident" in the hangar exhibit with the Eva units.
