Japan’s new Gundam Museum is closed to tourists before it even opens

Tickets for BANDAI SPIRITS new Shizuoka based BHCPDII MUSEUM, which allows fans to learn more about the creation of their popular model kits, have gone on sale – but tourists won’t be allowed to visit.

Ticket sales officially began today, the 2nd of June, with those looking to visit needing to enter a lottery before the 30th of June to win the chance to purchase tickets.

Now that the full application process has been revealed, it appears that there are several limitations in place that effectively amount to a ban on foreign tourists.

Gundam Museum 2 — This is as close as tourists will get to seeing inside the museum, for now

Firstly, you must have a valid Japanese Premium Bandai account to apply – which as the Japan P-Bandai platform has region restricted access, rules out applying if you’re located outside of Japan.

P BANDAI APPLICATION — Applications are managed via the P-Bandai Japan site, which has region restricted access

Even if you do manage to bypass the region restriction and register a Japanese P-Bandai account, the application terms currently explicitly state that applications are only accepted from Japanese residents and that ID, including proof of address, will be required to enter the museum.

Bandai Museum Terms — The Museum’s terms and conditions page clearly states applications are limited to residents of Japan

This means that anyone visiting Japan as a tourist will not be able to apply at this time, as it won’t be possible to provide ID that proves residency.

Bandai Museum Terms 2 — If you manage to bypass the application process, you’ll likely be refused entry at the museum when you fail to present a valid form of ID that matches the details on your application

It’s highly likely that these restrictions are only being implemented to reduce the initial volume of applications for tickets, as many fans will be eager to visit immediately after the museum’s opening.

Gundam Museum — The new museum is part of a new factory that has been built in Shizuoka to ramp up production of BANDAI model kits, including Gunpla

With Gundam and Gunpla being so popular, it’s likely that the demand far outweighs the supply of tickets so these restrictions will likely stay in place for the first few rounds of ticket application lotteries.

This restriction does come at a time when perceived “overtourism” has led to tiered pricing for certain attractions – a system which is set to make residents prove their status by presenting ID to avoid being charged an additional fee anywhere that implements such a policy.

Set to open this September, the new BHCPDII MUSEUM museum is integrated within the new “BANDAI HOBBY CENTER PLAMO DESIGN INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE” factory in Shizuoka, which will primarily allow BANDAI to expand production of their popular Gunpla model kits, based on the Gundam series.

For years, BANDAI has focused on providing enjoyable experiences through its plastic models, constantly adapting to evolving consumer interests.

This new “showcase factory” concept and its accompanying museum signify a further step in this evolution, inviting visitors to delve into the world of plastic model design and manufacturing.

The BHCPDII MUSEUM offers an interactive journey for fans, allowing them to gain insights into the evolution and ongoing developments of BANDAI SPIRITS’ plastic models.

HG 1144 Red Gundam 1 — BANDAI’s most popular and well known model kits are “Gunpla” – buildable plastic figures based on the Gundam series

Visitors will have the opportunity to metaphorically step into the shoes of a plastic model designer, giving them a newfound respect for the creative minds behind the hobby.

The museum will be structured into several key areas, each of which offers a fun and informative insight into the processes involved in the creation process of BANDAI’s model kits:

Study Area

This section serves as an introduction to the essence of plastic models. It includes the PLAMO Theater, where visitors can learn about the manufacturing process of plastic models and discover the BHCPDII’s vision.

Gundam Museum PLAMO THEATER — PLAMO THEATER

The Study Room delves into the creation process of the BHCPDII and its plastic models, emphasizing the dedication to craftsmanship.

The Study Road highlights the technological capabilities of the BANDAI HOBBY CENTER, its contributions to the plastic model world, historical advancements, and the depth of its commitment.

This area also provides views directly into the factory floor, offering a glimpse into real-time production.

Laboratory Area

Here, visitors can experience the plastic model design process firsthand by taking on the role of a designer.

Visitors will be given a “Designer ID”, which acts as a pass to a variety of terminals that allow you to go through the process of designing your very own model kit.

The first phase is MODELING DESIGN, whereby you’ll select the shape and concept of your model, which can be anything from a humanoid or animal form to your very own Gundam like mech.

Gundam Museum MODELING DESIGN — MODELING DESIGN

Next, you’ll head to COLORING DESIGN and set the colors you’ll use to create your kit.

Gundam Museum COLORING DESIGN — COLORING DESIGN

After choosing your color scheme, head over to MOLD DESIGN and finalise the “runner” which, for those unfamiliar with model kits, is a plastic grid on which the parts are placed ready to be snapped off for assembly.

Next, you’ll observe how runners are molded in a real molding machine.

Gundam Museum INJECTION — You can observe an actual Gunpla molding machine in action during the creation of your own model

Finally, the PACKAGING DESIGN phase allows you to create the packaging for your own unique model kit.

Gundam Museum PACKAGING — PACKAGING DESIGN

As souvenirs, visitors can receive their original package design and a runner plate.

Gundam Museum RESULT — You’ll also receive a “grade” for your performance in the Plastic Model Designer test once complete

Intended to be a fun and interactive experience, some fans may want to take the design process seriously, as you could win an award for your creation.

Each visitor will automatically be entered into the “MODEL AWARDS”, where every month BHCPDII MUSEUM staff will select the three best designs from among the designs made by visitors at BHCPDII MUSEUM.

The winning designs will likely feature on social media and potentially, the official museum website – an accolade that will give fans of the hobby bragging rights over their fellow enthusiasts.

PLAMO Gallery

In this final section of the museum, visitors can view plastic model designs created during the designer test and explore various other aspects of plastic models.

There is no indication from Bandai as to when they may remove the restrictions and accept applications from overseas fans looking to visit the museum at this time, but should this change we’ll bring you the latest info as it becomes available.

Location Details:

Address: 500-15 Nagamuma, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 420-0813, Japan.
Access: The museum is conveniently located a 3-minute walk from Nagamuma Station (Shizuoka Railway) and an 8-minute walk from Higashi-Shizuoka Station (JR Tokaido Line).

Operating Hours:

The museum operates from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
It is closed on Sundays, Mondays, public holidays, during the New Year’s holiday period, and on other days designated by the company.

Source: Official Website

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