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[Goods Roundup] Best-Selling and Recommended Items at the Tokyo National Museum “Museum Shop”

Published goods, museum
【グッズまとめ】東京国立博物館「ミュージアムショップ」の売れ筋グッズとオススメアイテムとは？

The Tokyo National Museum Museum Shop

The Tokyo National Museum (Tōhaku) museum shops are on the 1st floor of the Main Building (Honkan), the 1st floor of the Toyokan (Asian Gallery), and inside the Main Gate Plaza.
Today’s museum shops are a lot of fun, and I’m always curious about them.
I went to report on the goods section on the 1st floor of the Main Building.

Tokyo National Museum, Main Building
Tokyo National Museum, Main Building

Tokyo National Museum Museum Shop, Main Building 1F
Tokyo National Museum Museum Shop, Main Building 1F
The floor guide map
The floor guide map
The book corner is on floor M2.
The book corner is on floor M2.
The first floor is a very spacious area. *Photographed outside business hours; during opening hours it can get crowded depen…
The first floor is a very spacious area. *Photographed outside business hours; during opening hours it can get crowded depending on conditions.

The No. 1 Best-Seller: “Picture Postcards”

The shop’s top seller is postcards.Tōhaku sells them under the label “ehagaki” (picture postcards), ¥100 each (excl. tax).
The shop’s top seller is postcards.
Tōhaku sells them under the label “ehagaki” (picture postcards), ¥100 each (excl. tax).
The “picture postcards” are displayed across two wall sections. Great variety!
The “picture postcards” are displayed across two wall sections. Great variety!

Food-Related Items

Aside from the overwhelming volume of postcards, food items are the most popular (per shop staff).
You end up buying them both as souvenirs and for yourself.

Left: Yamamoto Noriten collaboration “Nori o Tanoshimu Ochazuke” ¥500 (excl. tax) / Right: “Sencha Tea Bags” ¥1,000 (excl. t…
Left: Yamamoto Noriten collaboration “Nori o Tanoshimu Ochazuke” ¥500 (excl. tax) / Right: “Sencha Tea Bags” ¥1,000 (excl. tax)

Kobe Fugetsudo collaboration “Tokyo National Museum Gaufres,” 3-tin set ¥1,200 (excl. tax)
Kobe Fugetsudo collaboration “Tokyo National Museum Gaufres,” 3-tin set ¥1,200 (excl. tax)
Eitaro candy in Tokyo National Museum limited packagingFūjin, Beauty Looking Back, Lakeside: ¥300 each (excl. tax)
Eitaro candy in Tokyo National Museum limited packaging
Fūjin, Beauty Looking Back, Lakeside: ¥300 each (excl. tax)

Stationery

After food, the next best-movers are said to be stationery items, centered on clear files and notebooks.

Stationery such as letter sets and single-sheet note paper also sells well, it seems.
Stationery such as letter sets and single-sheet note paper also sells well, it seems.

Sword masking tape that enthusiasts would love, ¥370 (excl. tax), and more
Sword masking tape that enthusiasts would love, ¥370 (excl. tax), and more

Haniwa Goods

The haniwa-related goods were extensive. The variety on sale is rich — hard to choose.

A steady favorite these past few years is the “Haniwa Socks,” ¥400 (excl. tax)
A steady favorite these past few years is the “Haniwa Socks,” ¥400 (excl. tax)

Haniwa goods have even expanded into precious metals!
Haniwa goods have even expanded into precious metals!
Silver, at this price — it feels relatively affordable.
Silver, at this price — it feels relatively affordable.
Clay-figure haniwa dolls
Clay-figure haniwa dolls

Kaiyodo Collaboration Goods

In May 2019, when I visited, what was displayed by the register was the Tokyo National Museum’s official figure “Fūjin Raijin” (Wind and Thunder Gods).
The renowned “Kaiyodo” meticulously turned the “Wind God and Thunder God Screens by Ogata Kōrin” into a figure.
It’s an official item sold only at the Tokyo National Museum (also available in the online shop).

The third Kaiyodo collaboration product
The third Kaiyodo collaboration product

Crafted by the workshop of sculptor Takayuki Takeya. Quite an intricate build.
Crafted by the workshop of sculptor Takayuki Takeya. Quite an intricate build.
Of the 3,000 limited units, 700 had already sold at the time (as of early May 2019).
Of the 3,000 limited units, 700 had already sold at the time (as of early May 2019).
The first Tōhaku × Kaiyodo collaboration was a gacha (now sold out); the second was this archaeology miniature.
The first Tōhaku × Kaiyodo collaboration was a gacha (now sold out); the second was this archaeology miniature.

Other Popular Items

The products are so varied that I couldn’t possibly introduce them all.
Here are a few other items that caught my eye, at random.

Among the pricier items, folding-screen (byōbu) products are said to move well.
Among the pricier items, folding-screen (byōbu) products are said to move well.

Many are small folding screens, so prices stayed under about ¥10,000.
Many are small folding screens, so prices stayed under about ¥10,000.
Woodblock prints were also on sale (produced by Adachi Hanga). You can choose a design from a file.
Woodblock prints were also on sale (produced by Adachi Hanga). You can choose a design from a file.
The most expensive item is this: “Hōryū-ji Treasures — Gilt-Bronze Standing Buddha” *replica, priced at ¥360,000 (incl. tax)…
The most expensive item is this: “Hōryū-ji Treasures — Gilt-Bronze Standing Buddha” *replica, priced at ¥360,000 (incl. tax)
At 4/5 scale, it stands 29.2 cm tall. Made of resin with gold leaf, it comes with a paulownia box and a booklet detailing the statue.

In Summary

This time I put things together while asking the museum-shop staff.
My impression is that museum shops have greatly sharpened their ability to develop original goods.
Major exhibitions bring new product development, so depending on the timing you may come across plenty of delightful items.

Interior of the museum shop
Interior of the museum shop
This article was written in May 2019.
Please note that the items carried and their prices vary depending on when you visit.

Details

Tokyo National Museum Museum Shop
Location: open on the 1st floor of the Main Building, the 1st floor of the Toyokan, and inside the Main Gate Plaza
Hours: in accordance with the museum’s exhibition hours

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