Glico Museum — Attraction in Osaka

I totally goofed when I visited the Glico Museum. I didn’t know that you had to make a reservation! Like a clueless gaijin, I walked up to the desk and said, “Hey, I’m here for the museum tour.” Luckily, the lady at the factory gate was beyond helpful. She called the office, and a gentleman came out to give us a private tour. You can’t imagine the mix of guilt and gratitude I felt. Glico—if you sold a box of dirt and called it rock sugar candy, I’d gladly buy it and eat it.

The museum wasn’t hard to get to, but it was a bit of a trek from Umeda Station (where we were staying) about 30 minutes by train plus a 10 minute walk.

One of my favorite parts was seeing all the different Glico Man signs. I’ve been visiting Japan since 1992, so I’ve seen the 4th, 5th, and the current 6th version. I still remember when the Dotonbori Bridge was just a simple bridge, like all the others. Now, it’s a wide pedestrian bridge, buzzing with people, street performers, and neon lights. It’s the prime spot for photos, especially with the Glico Man towering above.

My brother-in-law was blown away by the display of toys from discontinued Glico candies.He used to collect those as a kid.

If you have memories of Glico products or just curious about Glico’s humble beginnings, the museum is absolutely worth it. Just make sure you make a reservation!

I don’t know the names of the lady and the gentleman who helped us that day, but a huge thank you all the way...

A great museum if you like Glico toys (like a kinder surprise toy) and the history of the Glico Company. We visited with 2 adults and 2 primary school kids.

Booking is necessary by the phone prior to the visiting day. If you are staying around Osaka kita (north) area, it’s handy to visit because it’s only one stop to JR Tsukamoto station from Osaka. Probably 10 - 15 mins walk from Tsukamoto station.

Very limited English explanations for each exhibits though there must be able to download English information through the QR code at the beginning of the tour.

You have about an hour and half of time during your visit which was enough for us to take lots of photos and Glico print club photos (¥100/ pp).

Also there is a little shop you can purchase limited edition snacks.

We all had a great time visiting the museum and would like to take international...

Gilco museum is a hidden gem amongst Osaka. Although it can be tricky to book for foreign visitors, the tour is worth it. We got to spend almost an hour on a guided tour by an employee, and that includes an 8 minute video about the creature himself, Ri-ichi Ezaki. We also get small gift bags in the end, plus there's a mini gift shop, interactive displays and a photo stand with props. The Gilco employee who guided us spoke a little English, but we understood most just by looking at the displays and could read most of the info boards. Overall, it was a pleasure being there and I recommend anyone who's fond of their snacks (especially Pockey for me) to visit the...