Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum — Attraction in Fujikawaguchiko

This remarkable attraction combines the charm of a meticulously crafted French village with an extraordinary collection of automated musical instruments, creating an experience that feels like stepping into a fairy tale. Modeled after French architecture, every building showcases beautiful Cinderella-castle-style design that provides endless photographic opportunities throughout the grounds.

I arrived late in the day when Mount Fuji was completely obscured by clouds, having exhausted other sightseeing options, and entered more out of curiosity than expectation. What I discovered was far beyond anything I had anticipated. The admission fee includes access to scheduled musical performances featuring massive automated organs, live opera singers, and grand automated music organ concerts that demonstrate incredible engineering and artistry from a bygone era.

What truly impressed me was witnessing the staff’s dedication during closing time, as they carefully maintained and adjusted the numerous antique automated instruments with obvious expertise and care. This daily ritual speaks to their commitment to preserving these mechanical marvels for future visitors, ensuring each performance maintains its magical quality.

The gift shop offers an extensive selection of music boxes in various sizes and musical selections, plus unique items like violins. While perhaps not as comprehensive as Hokkaido’s famous Otaru music box shops, the quality and sound of their music boxes are genuinely beautiful and worth considering as souvenirs.

The magical climax of my visit occurred when the clouds suddenly parted, revealing Mount Fuji in perfect view from the French village setting. This unexpected moment created an absolutely breathtaking backdrop that had every visitor frantically capturing photos of the stunning combination of European architecture and Japan’s most iconic mountain. The contrast between the French-style buildings and the majestic mountain created such a surreal, picture-perfect scene that it felt almost too beautiful to be real.

This destination successfully combines cultural education, musical entertainment, architectural beauty, and natural scenery into one cohesive experience that appeals to visitors of all ages...

The Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum is a delightful and whimsical experience—like stepping into a European fairy tale right at the foot of Mt. Fuji. The buildings themselves have a charming, old-world feel, and the grounds are beautifully maintained with roses, fountains, and lakefront views that are simply stunning on a clear day.

Inside, you’ll find a fascinating collection of antique and automated musical instruments from around the world, including giant music boxes, self-playing orchestras, and early phonographs. There are short live shows throughout the day, ranging from elegant opera performances to impressive demonstrations of the mechanical orchestras—well worth timing your visit to catch one or two.

One of the highlights is the musical water fountain, which plays in harmony with classical tunes while you enjoy the peaceful surroundings. There’s a cozy café on-site where you can relax with a coffee while taking in the fountain show and beautiful garden views.

Set right on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi, the museum also offers incredible views of Mt. Fuji on clear days, making it a great stop for both cultural enrichment and photo opportunities. While it’s not a large museum, it’s packed with charm and perfect for couples, families, or anyone looking for a unique and relaxing outing.

Highly recommended if you’re in the area—especially if you enjoy music, history, or just want something a...

It's hard for me to rate this place actually. It rather left me confused. It is full of tour groups (certainly was when we entered at opening time), the buildings are rather kitsch (think a Disney-esque version of European style), and the gardens are neither extensive nor particularly attractive. So, if that were that, I would rate it 1-star, 2 at best.

But, a big but, the owners have invested time and (a lot of) money in collecting wonderful examples of automated musical machines which are displayed in two of the buildings. One huge room below ground has a massive European music hall organ(and smaller ones too) that is demonstrated a few times a day and is absolutely amazing. The other building houses a considerable collection of old music players, many of which I have never seen anything like before. Very interesting and educational, and labeled in English in most cases. Everything beautifully maintained, and showcased.

The bizarre thing, of course, is that the display rooms are relatively quiet, as most of the tourists are outside taking selfies in the grounds or against the European-styled buildings.

So, you pay your money and you take your choice, but if you are interested by the idea of musical machines, the entrance fee is worth paying just for that. But if that doesn't interest you, you can skip...