We got the best look yet at the new Gundam museum that’s closed to tourists
Bandai Spirits has offered an advance look inside their new factory and an accompanying public museum, both located at its main “Bandai Hobby Center” production facility, ahead of their grand opening.
A media preview of the new “BANDAI HOBBY CENTER PLAMO DESIGN INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE MUSEUM,” also referred to as the “BHCPDII MUSEUM,” was held on Wednesday, the 20th of August, 2025.
The Bandai Hobby Center, located in Shizuoka, Japan, is now the primary manufacturing plant for the company’s massively popular line of “Gunpla,” or Gundam plastic models.
The new factory, which was completed in January of this year, is a highly automated facility designed to significantly increase production capacity to meet global demand.
Inside the factory, there will be 10 multi-color molding machines and 84 single-color molding machines for molding plastic model parts.
Combined with equipment such as AGVs (automated guided vehicles), overhead transport carts, and automated warehouses, the factory will be able to carry out all processes from molding parts to bagging and boxing in one place, making it more efficient at increasing production than previous factories.
Company executives stated that when the new plant becomes fully operational in fiscal year 2026, it will increase the company’s overall plastic model output by 35 percent compared to 2023, allowing them to “strengthen the Gunpla brand worldwide.”
Opening within this new factory is a public-facing museum, which will offer fans an in-depth look at the entire process of creating a model kit.
The museum features a gallery of design art and 3D models for various product lines, including Gundam and 30 Minutes Sisters.
Exhibits are dedicated to explaining the manufacturing process, from initial design to final packaging, and showcase Bandai’s advanced molding technologies like “insert molding” for multi-color parts and “snap-fit” engineering.
The museum also includes a series of interactive corners where visitors can use a “Designer ID” to experience the processes of “modeling design,” “coloring design,” and “mold design”, to create their very own model kit:
Visitors will also be able to design their own custom model kit packaging:
As souvenirs, visitors can receive their original package design and a runner plate.
Intended to be a fun and interactive experience, some fans may want to take the design process seriously, as they could win an award for their 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 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.
Another major draw for visitors is a lineup of limited-edition model kits that can only be purchased by those who attend the museum.
The exclusive items include:
- ENTRY GRADE 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam (Full Weapon Set) [BHCPDII Color]
- 30MS SIS-G00 Richetta [BHCPDII Color]
- Planosaurus Tyrannosaurus [BHCPDII Color]
- 1/60 Electric 4-color Injection Molding Machine [BHCPDII Color]
- MG 1/100 Strike Freedom Gundam [Recirculation Color/Neon Blue]
Most of the exclusives feature a special “BHCPDII Color” blue color scheme.
Admission to the new museum will be by a lottery reservation system only.
The reservation process drew considerable attention earlier this year, when it transpired that only residents of Japan could apply for tickets.
This restriction effectively barred anyone visiting Japan as a tourist from visiting, as even if they managed to acquire a ticket, the museum is set to require a valid form of ID to be produced upon entry that proves residency within Japan.
At present, there have been no indications that this restriction will be lifted any time soon, meaning that international Gundam and model kit fans will need to wait until an as-yet-undetermined future date to visit the BHCPDII MUSEUM.
The “BANDAI HOBBY CENTER PLAMO DESIGN INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE MUSEUM” is located at 500-15 Naganuma, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
It is scheduled to officially open to the public on Tuesday, the 2nd of September, 2025.
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