Tokyo Small Worlds Museum: A Miniature Nation That Drives Both Adults and Kids Wild
In Ariake, near Tokyo's Odaiba, there is a miniature model museum called "Small Worlds." It is popular with both adults and children, and even more so because of themed areas based on "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Sailor Moon," making it a must-visit spot for many anime fans.
A Dreamlike Miniature World That Captivates Kids and Adults Alike
Do you like miniature exhibitions or miniature photography? Right in Ariake, near Odaiba, Tokyo, there is Asia's largest miniature museum—Tokyo Small Worlds. Inside, there are various dreamlike miniature scenes created by a team of Japanese miniature craftsmen, scaled down to 1/80 of the real world. These include the "Space Center," where you can actually launch a small rocket; "World Town"; "Sailor Moon Crystal Tokyo"; "Kansai International Airport"; "Evangelion Hangar"; "Evangelion's Third New Tokyo City"; and "The Charm of Japan's Night Views"—eight themed areas in total. There is also a themed café, a souvenir shop, and a rest area for visitors.
Below is a brief rundown of the highlights!
Tokyo Small Worlds (スモールワールズ)
Address: 1-3-33 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Ariake Logistics Center
Opening hours: 9:00–19:00 (last entry one hour before closing)
※ Opening hours and holidays may change without notice. Please check the official website for the latest information.
- 3-minute walk from Yurikamome Line "Ariake Tennis no Mori" Station
- 9-minute walk from Rinkai Line "Kokusai Tenjijo" Station
① Countdown! Fly into the Miniature World with the Rocket
Upon entering Tokyo Small Worlds, the first exhibition area you see is the Space Center, where a rocket launches. Whether in space movies or historical footage, the countdown to a rocket launch always gets the heart racing. Tokyo Small Worlds has meticulously recreated a detailed, spacious space center in an adorable miniature form, with regular rocket launch shows. You can watch a rocket about the size of a baseball bat actually ignite and launch! Following this rocket, it feels as if you are heading to another "miniature planet in space," about to embark on an adventure.
2. Beautiful Scenery of Another Miniature Planet
What would it feel like if the world we live in were compressed to 1/80 of its original size? The "World Town," which you "board the rocket" to enter, lets you experience just that. Through the ingenuity and skill of miniature model artisans, World Town consists of islands with different scenery, styles, and cultures—from natural landscapes to architectural wonders, from rural villages to bustling metropolises. There are also fantasy elements, such as a Western-style dragon. Among these, you may find scenes that look familiar, such as an Asian area reminiscent of Hong Kong cinema from the 80s and 90s.
If you think the scenes are purely static exhibitions, you are greatly mistaken. In these scenes, there are trains whizzing by, minecarts carrying ore over hills, and cars and bicycles driving freely and obeying traffic lights. Some can be triggered by buttons to change movements, while others, like the road traffic, are fully automated through system settings—it truly feels like a living, tiny world you can participate in. Your camera or phone acts like an aerial drone, capturing the enchanting scenery of this miniature world from above.
In addition to World Town, Tokyo Small Worlds also features a miniature version of Osaka's Kansai International Airport. From the terminal building, runways, air traffic control staff, passengers, and planes from various airlines, to the background projection that changes from dawn to dusk, the scene is incredibly immersive. Interestingly, in the middle of the runway, there is a spot where you can poke your head through for a photo, and you can also enjoy the daily airport scenes, like planes taking off and landing, from different angles.
Moreover, right next to this area is the "Airport Lounge." You can rest a while in "first class" and watch the planes come and go.
3. Sailor Moon's Azabu-Juban and the Moonlight Crystal Castle
ⒸNaoko Takeuchi
In Tokyo Small Worlds, there is a special zone that will excite fans of "Sailor Moon." Here, you can see the Azabu-Juban neighborhood where the main characters live, as well as a Tokyo cityscape with the Moonlight Crystal Castle in the background. You can also search for the Sailor Guardians in this miniature yet sizable area—there are six spots where the Sailor Soldiers appear, most often the protagonist Usagi Tsukino and Sailor Moon (the Moon Princess). Like World Town, this area also has buttons to control scene actions, waiting for you to discover them yourself.
ⒸNaoko Takeuchi
Seeing a miniature recreation of Azabu-Juban and searching for the main characters in the streets is already thrilling for fans. But what you absolutely cannot miss is when the entire scene turns to night—the landscape transformed by the moon and the Moonlight Crystal Castle will surely let fans relive the classic atmosphere of "Sailor Moon." Particularly, the scene of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask on a rooftop with a giant moon in the background is a classic among classics.
4. The Apocalyptic Future of Neon Genesis Evangelion
ⒸKhara
Tokyo Small Worlds not only features "Sailor Moon" but also the equally classic and heavyweight anime "Neon Genesis Evangelion." In the "Evangelion Hangar," you can see Unit-00, Unit-01, and Unit-02 being deployed, with the anime's BGM playing in the background, truly stirring the blood. And since these scenes are also recreated at a 1/80 scale, they still look enormous—imagine how spectacular they would be if they existed in real life.
ⒸKhara
At the same time, Tokyo Small Worlds recreates the Third New Tokyo City. This area also features music from "Neon Genesis Evangelion," and with the transition from day to night, you can see the city rising and falling, which is very impressive. Interestingly, on the walls of this area, many classic scenes from the anime are displayed, including the street view of protagonist Shinji Ikari and one of the heroines, Rei Ayanami, on their way to school; Misato Katsuragi sunbathing with her pet Pen Pen; and so on. You can actually find these scenes within the miniature models, making you marvel at the ingenuity of Tokyo Small Worlds and the precision of the craftsmen's work.
5. Not-So-Miniature Food in the Miniature World
After wandering through the miniature world and seeing all sorts of 1/80 scale scenery, why not take a seat at the museum's café? In this café space themed around Japan's night views, they serve dishes as delicate and adorable as the models, including omurice and curry rice for a proper meal, as well as afternoon tea snacks. The café also displays miniature versions of industrial zones, night cherry blossoms, and Japanese castles like Azuchi Castle. In particular, next to the Japanese castle, there is a special spot for visitors to take close-up photos—a "check-in spot" many people visit.
Oh, and by the way, even though Tokyo Small Worlds is a miniature-themed museum, don't worry—the food here is normal-sized!
6. Extra Fun: Live in Tokyo Small Worlds
In the souvenir shop at Tokyo Small Worlds, you can find various miniature model merchandise, including many special items from "Sailor Moon" and "Neon Genesis Evangelion." But the most astonishing thing is the ability to order your own miniature 3D model—using an advanced 3D scanning camera that captures you from 360 degrees. The result is converted into a 1/80 scale (same as most models in Tokyo Small Worlds) or a slightly larger 1/35 scale. It takes 2–3 weeks from being scanned on-site to the finished product. You can choose to have it shipped or pick it up. If you want a preview of the 3D model sooner, download the app "Avatavi" on your phone and scan the QR code provided at the museum. This not only shows you the 3D model but also makes it "move" in the real scene through the app's camera—very fun.
If during your visit you get the idea that you'd love to live somewhere in Tokyo Small Worlds, that can actually be achieved—you can have your own miniature model "move into" a spot in Tokyo Small Worlds. By purchasing the museum's "3D Model Making with One-Year Residency Plan," you not only receive one of your own 3D models, but another copy of your model will be placed in an area of your choosing within the museum! While touring, you can pick the place you want to "live in," such as a medieval European-style town, a Hong Kong-style Chinatown, or even inside the scenes of "Sailor Moon" or "Neon Genesis Evangelion," standing right next to the main characters.
Designing your miniature pose to match your favorite scene will make your "residency" look even more creative! If you want to see yourself living in Tokyo Small Worlds with your own eyes, be sure to visit in person soon, or ask a friend to take a photo as proof.
Epilogue and Behind-the-Scenes
From the great Tokyo metropolis to the world and into space, Tokyo Small Worlds seems to condense an entire universe, meticulously recreating this magnificent world. Here, there are not only beautiful landscapes and architecture, but also grand and fantastical anime scenes, complete with comic characters and... yourself. As your visit draws to a close, you have the opportunity to see part of the miniature craftsmen's workspace, and there are even workshops where you can try your hand at making miniatures.
Walking through the space lined with various modeling materials and seeing the new works the craftsmen are currently working on may leave you with lingering impressions to savor from your journey into the miniature world.
Tokyo Small Worlds (スモールワールズ)
Address: 1-3-33 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Ariake Logistics Center
Opening hours: 9:00–19:00 (last entry at 18:00)
※ Opening hours and holidays may change without notice. Please check the official website for the latest information.
- 3-minute walk from Yurikamome Line "Ariake Tennis no Mori" Station
- 9-minute walk from Rinkai Line "Kokusai Tenjijo" Station
