What Makes the Snoopy Museum Special?

Thinking about visiting the Snoopy Museum in Tokyo? You should — here’s why.

The world-famous beagle is one of Japan’s most beloved canine characters — and the museum is a testament to that. Although created in America, Japan has kind of adopted the dog as its own. There are many dedicated Snoopy spots throughout the country, including cafés, shops — and of course the cute museum.

Pro tip: Planning to visit Osaka? Take a trip to Universal Studios Japan — you’ll also find the lovable beagle there.

What is the Snoopy Museum Tokyo?

The Snoopy Museum Tokyo is a museum dedicated to Snoopy, the Peanuts gang, and their creator, Charles M. Schulz. Featuring original comic strips, rare collectors’ items, and animation, the museum gives fans of the cartoon dog the opportunity to immerse themselves into the world created by Schulz.

What makes this museum so special?

There are only two Snoopy Museums in the world — the other one is in Santa Rosa, California. The Snoopy Museum Tokyo first opened its doors in 2016, but moved from its original spot in Roppongi due to immense popularity. In 2019, it reopened, on a much grander scale, in Minami-Machida Grandberry Park, on the edge of Tokyo.

To keep things fresh and up to date for Snoopy fans, the museum often has what they call “renewals”. This is where the museum reopens with new exhibits and exteriors. To add to this excitement, with each renewal, new merchandise is sold at the gift shop, and new items are added to the menu at the Peanuts Café.

With the February 2024 renewal, the museum added a giant Snoopy head at the entrance, new artwork on the outside of the buildings, and a Traveling Peanuts exhibition.

Tickets for the Snoopy Museum in Tokyo

You can either buy an advance ticket through the official website, or a same-day ticket at the museum.

How much does it cost to go to the Snoopy Museum in Tokyo?

Advance tickets are slightly cheaper, costing ¥1,800 for adults, ¥800 for junior-high and high-school students, and ¥400 for elementary-school students.

However, it is worth keeping in mind that you will be charged an admin fee of ¥100 or ¥220 if you pay for your ticket at a convenience store. When booking online, you will also be asked to choose a specific date and time slot.

Same-day tickets cost ¥2,000 for adults, ¥1,000 for junior-high and high-school students, and ¥600 for elementary-school students. The main advantage of buying your ticket at the Snoopy Museum is that you receive an exclusive cartoon strip, something which Snoopy superfans may want.

That said, only a set number of same-day tickets are sold, meaning that you run the risk of not being able to get your hands on one. Additionally, the queue for the ticket counter can get long pretty quickly. If you do decide to go for a same-day ticket, it is best to go as close to the museum opening time as possible.

What to see at the Snoopy Museum

Besides the obvious, lots of Snoopy, the museum gives fans the opportunity to learn more about the cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, explore his inspirations, and see some of the original comic strips.

The Snoopy Museum consists of three different floors. You automatically start with the exhibitions on the third floor. Then you work your way down to the exhibits on the second floor, and finally finish at the gift shop on the first floor.

The third floor

The first exhibit you encounter is the “Snoopy Wonder Room”. Filled with around 1,000 different items, this room allows visitors to see some of the most iconic pieces of Snoopy memorabilia, up close. From vintage mugs to models, all the items have been donated by Snoopy fans. Undoubtedly, the most eye-catching part of the exhibit is the Snoopy plushie display in the middle of the room.

Then you walk into a room dedicated to the life of Charles M. Schulz. The black-and-white photos showcase his passion for drawing, as well as give you more insight into his life from child to cartoonist. There are also rare recordings and interviews, in which the man himself details the creation process, his inspirations, and connection with the characters.

Although passable as just a story for children about a boy and his dog, Schultz engrained themes such as faith, race, existentialism, and feminism into Peanuts. It’s a real treat to see the amount of love and care that went into something many of us grew up with and learned from.

Entering the next room makes you feel as though you have become part of the cartoon. Overflowing with color and vintage cartoons, this part of the exhibit is where you can see some of the first-ever Peanuts cartoon strips. Fans will know that the designs of the characters, including the titular dog, went through some subtle changes throughout the years, so it is interesting to see them within the different cartoons.

As you continue to walk around, you will be introduced to the individual members of the Peanuts gang. Each character has their own little section, which includes some of their most memorable appearances within the cartoon series. There are also a few short animations to stand back and watch.

The outside terrace

After taking this all in, we recommend that you head outside to not only admire the view of the surrounding scenery, but also the hundreds of Snoopys on the wall. Don’t miss the small one on the ground playing golf.

The second floor

The second floor is where the instantly recognizable “Snoopy Room” is. Inside, there are different models of the beagle throughout the ages. It is the perfect picture spot. Make sure to stay long enough to see the special light show that plays every so often.

New 2024 exhibit: Traveling Peanuts

The museum also showcases priceless original drawings that are on loan from the Schultz Museum. The latest exhibit, which will be on until September 9 2024, is titled Traveling Peanuts.

Centered around the Peanuts gang and their travels, this exhibit features original comic strips as well as personal photographs of Schulz’s own travels.

Although Schulz himself was said to not have enjoyed traveling much, that didn’t stop his characters from having adventures in different parts of the world. From California to Wimbledon, this exhibit gives visitors a closer look at how and why the characters explored certain areas of the world.

As you enter the last room of the museum, you’ll see a large replica of Snoopy’s iconic red doghouse. Take a peek inside to see an adorable animation of Snoopy lazing about.

Visitors also have the opportunity to write a personal message to Snoopy on a post-it note and stick it on the wall. These normally stay displayed throughout the whole day.

The first floor: Snoopy shopping

After you have finished exploring the world of the Peanuts gang, you will be directed downstairs to the Brown’s Store. As soon as you step foot inside, you are met with what feels like an endless amount of Snoopy merchandise. From plushies to stationery and other miscellaneous goods, you are bound to find the perfect Snoopy-themed gift. Notably, many of the items stocked here are original goods, meaning that they cannot be bought anywhere else in the world.

You may notice that even the interior of the store has a cartoon theme to it, with many of the display tables looking like they have been sketched out. The shop also pays homage to some of the most memorable gags in the series — Lucy’s psychiatrist booth.

Right at the back of the store, there is a whole section dedicated to books and art of the famous beagle. Here is where you will find shelves filled with postcards featuring panels from the cartoon — these postcards are probably the most inexpensive items which can be purchased at the store.

The workshop

The Snoopy Museum also features a permanent workshop room. There are several programs throughout the year that children and parents can sign up for, such as designing toys and tote bags, and baking Snoopy-themed cookies and sweets.

We cannot stress enough how quickly these workshops sell out. If you want to sign up for a workshop, you must do so through a link on the museum’s official website that takes you to Pass Market, so you will need a Yahoo Japan ID to apply. Workshop tickets also include admission into the museum.

Note: The workshops will more than likely be conducted entirely in Japanese.

Peanuts Café

Next to the museum, you will find the Peanuts Café. This is one of three Snoopy-themed cafés in Tokyo — the others are in Harajuku and Nakameguro. Given that each has its own unique concept and feel, fans make it their mission to visit each one.

The concept

This particular Peanuts Café is themed after the gang’s “Potluck Picnic”, so it has more of an outdoorsy vibe. Regardless of where you are sitting, you get a great view of the surrounding greenery because of the large windows. Some lucky guests can even see the different statues of Snoopy, located just outside the park.

Other notable interior features include the giant red frame in the shape of Snoopy’s doghouse, the characters on the back of each chair, and the space-themed Snoopy lightshade.

The menu

The menu, which includes both savory and sweet options, is inspired by both the cartoon characters as well as the special exhibitions at the museum. For example, to celebrate the Traveling Peanuts exhibition, the café introduced a few new special dishes, including Spike’s Mexican Taco Set and Snoopy’s “Grand Slam” Crepe. There are also some special drinks like “Peppermint Patty’s Chocolate Mint Milkshake”.

Avid Snoopy collectors may want to keep in mind that some of the dishes come with a small special gift, such as an exclusive cartoon strip or coaster.

Eating here isn’t the most affordable, with prices for drinks starting at around ¥500 and going up to ¥1,100 for the fancier ones. Food also ranges from around ¥1,400 to ¥2,500. That said, the portion sizes are decent and the atmosphere of the restaurant is fun. It is also convenient, as you simply order off an iPad, with limited staff interactions.

Eat-in or take-out?

Unsurprisingly, the restaurant is very popular. Especially from around lunchtime to mid-afternoon, the queue to dine indoors can easily be an hour or more. That’s why we recommend trying to go in the late morning, before it starts getting busier.

If this is too early, then you can always grab a ticket and use the café’s virtual queuing system instead. This gives you the chance to walk around the rest of Grandberry Park and come back when it’s your turn. The restaurant also offers take-out — a great option for those who don’t have much time.

Before leaving the café, take a look at the small souvenir shop at the front of the store. Here you will find even more original goods, including Snoopy-themed kitchen and outdoor goods.

How to get to the Snoopy Museum Tokyo

The Snoopy Museum Tokyo is located in Grandberry Park, a shopping mall in Machida. From Shibuya Station, it takes around 35-minutes to get to Grandberry Park on the Den-en-toshi Line Express. Wherever you are coming from, simply get off at Minami-machida Grandberry Park Station for direct access to the shopping mall.

You know that you are in the right place as there is a giant Snoopy statue waiting to greet you on the platform nearest to the exit. Once you tap out of the station, there are even more Snoopy statues guiding you through the park to the museum.

As you follow the Snoopy statues, you will soon approach the Wonder Theater building. Walk through here and you will arrive at the Snoopy Museum.

See more Snoopy statues

If you are coming from the train station, you won’t need to go through the park located at the back of the museum. However, it is worth taking a stroll down as there are some more Snoopy statues there. The main one is the set of “Snoopy Through the Ages” statues.

Further down, there is another sitting Snoopy statue which directly points you towards the museum.

Snoopy Museum FAQs

How long do you need for the Snoopy Museum?

We recommend spending at least two hours wandering around the museum and the Brown Store gift shop. Those wanting to grab a bite to eat at the Peanuts Café should schedule at least 3 hours, as the waiting times to eat in can be around an hour.

Is Snoopy big in Japan?

Snoopy is one of Japan’s most cherished cartoon characters. Just in Tokyo, there is the Snoopy Museum, three different Peanuts cafes, and a few Snoopy-themed shops. At Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, there are even Snoopy-themed rides.

While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Original article written by Aaron Baggett, in 2021. Updated in April, 2024, by Jane Pipkin.