Good old time Japanese
Nestled in the picturesque hills of Gunma prefecture of Japan is a car museum is like no other I've ever seen actually even call this a car museum is exactly what undervalue you find here a visit to the museum Yokota M is like taking a trip back to another era, and the exquisite selection of Japanese cars of time is only part of the experience.
I'd seen snippets on the place online over the years, but on my last trip to Japan, I am determined to see the museum for me these pictures of race cars collection Yokota only enough to put up on my 2013 winter to do list.
So one morning, my wife and I hopped on a train to Ueno station in Tokyo and made our way out of town and into the countryside Gunma.
After a train ride of two hours and a short bus ride from Shibukawa station, we arrived at the destination of the building's architecture was interesting to say the least.
It is certainly not something you expect to see on the side of a rural road in Japan.
But enough on the outside, it's what's inside that counts, as it is just a Speedhunter, it was of course the classic car collection that brought me here, but the Yokota Museum is so much more.
In fact, the official name of the place is the Ikaho Toy, Doll and Classic Car Museum and even that doesn t properly summarize the fascinating and sometimes strange that s inside.
More than anything, the museum pays homage to Japanese culture after the war, automobiles, toys and dolls are objects used to bring the past to life.
The entire place is full of elements that appeal to Japan from the 50, 60, 70 and 80.
For photographic tributes to long line of pop idols and singers of the country's youth.
With so many other things that tell the story of the rise of Japan after the war to become sluggish economic strength, technological and cultural it is today.
But how exactly does the Yokota museum just what is the story behind this country nostalgic wonders in the hills of Gunma.
It is the work of Mr. Masahiro Yokota, a carpenter originally come from a poor background of the working class after mastering his craft, he may have a very successful career as a home builder working in boom massive 1980s in Japan.
And while he was able to achieve financial prosperity throughout his career, he never felt fully satisfied The money was there, but he really wanted to do something that made people happy Having traveled the world and see how moving the economic landscape in the US and Europe, he knew the economy of the Japanese bubble would burst.
In 1994, Yokota-san decided to take a leap of faith, he left behind his building career and created the doll and toy museum.
During his years of demolition of old houses and build new ones, he began amassing a large collection of unwanted toys He felt bad to see them thrown, and it was this collection that became the starting point for the But more than just a museum display of old toys, he wanted the museum to talk about the time they were made and used.
It was actually a bit of a risky proposition at the time, it wasn ta whole lot of nostalgia for the Showa period, the idea of a modern museum with items from toys of the past two decades was unknown Not to mention Japan's economic bubble had collapsed in fact, like Yokota-san feared.
But it turns out that there was a demand to return at that time not so ancient history of Japan Perhaps it was actually good timing Perhaps the tough economic times of the 90 were people who aspire to return to a simpler and more optimistic era.
Whatever the case, people across Japan were soon coming Gunma to see the new museum Yokota-san, he was soon on the way to repay the massive bank loan he d removed to build and run the more important museum still, he had accomplished his goal of building something that put a smile on people's faces.
Of course, for me it was the car brought me here in the first place, but to be honest, I find toys and other pieces of equally interesting nostalgia.
While I can appreciate an ancient temple or traditional Japanese garden as well everybody, it really is latest Japan's contributions to the history that led me to fall in love with the country in this sense, the museum is Yokota an absolutely fantastic place.
But cars well they come in reality the picture later in the history of the museum Yokota-san had always been a gearhead, and owned hundreds of motorbikes During the height of his business success he drove Ferraris, Porsches and other high-end import cars that were rampant in the Tokyo streets during the boom years.
And then he loved the bikes and exotic imports, it never paid attention to the contributions of the car in his own country.
But all that changed when he was in Yokohama one day and first laid eyes on the iconic Toyota 2000GT He d heard about the car as a young man, but it wasn t until much later in life that it actually had the chance to see one in the flesh it was love at first sight a timeless beautiful car designed and built in Japan.
His meeting with the 2000GT has triggered a huge passion for Japanese kyusha, and soon his collection was growing to include a number of legendary North American vehicles of the 60s and 70s.
Not only had he fallen in love with these time machines, but they served as a perfect complement to the museum a perfect addition to the assortment of nostalgia for the era of Showa he already assembled.
In 2004, the classic car section of the museum was officially opened with a group of 70 fun and rewarding way handpicked and vintage cars restored Yokota-san had already found to share his passion for vintage for Japan with the public, and the process of collecting and restoring these cars has made things much better.
The cars from the collection have all been restored with meticulous authenticity all original gauges to the correct period of bias tires were taken into account.
Although the majority of the cars in the museum are street models, a number of race cars are in the mix, too.
It's a tempting machine on the screen, but I'll wait until the next job to dig into the detail cars.
One thing that is particularly cool on car screens is the way they're accompanied by artifacts of the period during which they were built.
Sometimes it is as simple as factory brochures and former model kits.
Or promotional items like this cool brand handbag Toyota 2000GT.
Some of the other screens are even more complete here is a tire support loaded with raw rubber for example.
And in another corner, a shelf of steering wheels, mirrors, wheel covers, and many other parts of cool old car.
Check out these S30 Fairlady Z Race Street Toyoshima service springs To quote the English motto written on the front of the box The most revolutionary advance since the invention of the suspension it its power and experience equilibrium We produced an investigative suspension for the new generation who could ask for more.
Promotional models, Diecast toys, old car magazines everything to far more than just an antique car collection.
With the continued success of the museum over the years, the facility has expanded to include a museum stuffed bear and the Chocolate Museum and wine.
This includes the bartender future Admission to all screens are part of 1,050 yen about 10 modest admission fee.
There's even an outdoor space that includes a squirrel habitat To use the old cliché, it is fun for the whole family.
It also happens that the squirrel area is directly in front of Ferrari F40 Yokota-san is a bit surreal, but it's part of the experience.
The Yokota Museum made me nostalgic for a time and place decades before and half a world away from myself something of youth, I would talk about its effectiveness judging by the young and old faces, I saw enjoying the vintage atmosphere, it's safe to say the dream of Masahiro Yokota became a reality.
The next time I go back a little closer to the machine that calls home Yokota Museum.
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Wow nice place to Shibukawa station how did you go to the museum Yokota taxi or bus and admission is free on i heard they have initial accessories of Japanese cartoons you saw, you should not miss.
Hi Mike, Thanks Great post for all the information, we go to Japan soon and will definitely put this on our agenda that my husband is a car nut We have an old and a 1 year 6 years that they Would Like is something for children to play with it or is it just a toy museum.
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Good Old Days Museum Japan Yokota, Japan, good, Yokota.