Time Roman

MUSEUM GUIDE

Our museum complex brings together five unique museums: the Kobe Doll Museum, the Postcard Museum, the Kobe Clock Design Museum, the Kobe Photo Museum, and the Fujino Museum.

Admission Fees

Opening Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Open on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (Advance Reservation Required)

Special Combined Ticket (All Museums)
Adults (High School Students & Above)
1,600yen
Children (Elementary & Junior High School Students)
1,200yen
Main Building (4 Museums)
Adults (High School Students & Above)
1,300yen
Children (Elementary & Junior High School Students)
1,000yen
East Building (Fujino Museum)
Adults (High School Students & Above)
500yen
Children (Elementary & Junior High School Students)
400yen
The Main Building houses the Postcard Museum on the first floor, the Kobe Doll Museum and Kobe Clock Design Museum on the second floor, and the Kobe Photo Museum on the third floor.
Book Your Visit

Main Building Guide

Tarumi Museum Complex – Five Museums in One Destination 1-7-20 Utashikiyama, Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0037, Japan

TEL:078-705-0080
Open Tuesdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Main Building Guide
Postcard Museum
1F

Step back in time to a bygone era.
Discover the lost landscapes and cultural heritage preserved through vintage postcards.

The Postcard Museum showcases vintage postcards from Japan and around the world dating from the late Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods.
Following the legalization of privately printed postcards in 1900, postcard culture flourished throughout Japan, inspiring countless beautiful designs.In an era before modern communication, specialty postcard shops became popular gathering places where people discovered the wider world.
Many postcards, influenced by ukiyo-e and traditional Japanese painting, featured hand-coloring and woodblock printing, reflecting the artistic spirit of the Taisho Romantic era.
Each postcard is a small window into the landscapes, customs, and culture of its time—a storyteller that preserves history.
Step back in time and experience the charm of a bygone era through these remarkable postcards.

Kobe Clock Design Museum
2F

The gentle rhythm of time, flowing like the murmuring of a clear stream.A journey through the world of clock design.

Discover beautifully designed clocks from around the world in a museum dedicated to the art of timekeeping and design.

Mechanical clocks keep time through an intricate system of mainsprings, gears, and escapements, transmitting motion from the second hand to the minute and hour hands.Their dials invite us to experience the passage of time from a unique perspective—offering a timeless charm that digital displays cannot replicate.
The steady heartbeat of a clock echoes the soothing sound of a flowing stream, creating a calming and memorable experience.
Our collection is systematically organized by category, maker, country, era, and materials, allowing visitors to explore the evolution of clock design while appreciating the craftsmanship and creativity of their makers.

The collection also features rare modern plastic clocks produced in Japan during a brief period of the Showa era, preserving an important chapter in design history.

Exhibits
Showa-era plastic clocks, glass clocks, bronze clocks, wooden clocks, mechanical automaton clocks, wall clocks, alarm clocks, and more.Systematically organized by category and theme.

Kobe Doll Museum
2F

Discover the timeless charm of antique dolls.

Located near the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Maiko, the museum showcases elegant French antique bisque dolls, automata, dollhouses, and dolls from around the world, sharing their rich history and cultural significance.Watch fascinating automata in motion through video presentations and explore reference materials about dolls and clocks.

Collection Highlights
Automata, bisque dolls, fashion dolls, dollhouses, teddy bears, and more.

Kobe Photo Museum
3F

Landscapes, traditions, and the history of transportation.A photographic journey through the changing times, captured through the lens.

The Kobe Photo Museum presents photographs from the Showa and Heisei eras, featuring landscapes, festivals, traditions, transportation, and everyday life from postwar Japan to the present day.Selected photographs and postcards are also available through our online shop.

Main Building Guide

藤野美術館 正面入り口

A peaceful retreat where art and music come together in perfect harmony.

The Fujino Museum is an intimate gallery dedicated to the permanent collection of paintings by Naokazu Fujino.
Special exhibitions featuring artworks collected over many years are held throughout the year.
Visitors can enjoy approximately 50 works of art displayed throughout the permanent and special exhibition galleries.

SHOP GUIDE

A one-of-a-kind destination combining Time Roman, a specialty store for teddy bears and dolls, with the Motomachi Postcard Museum, featuring beautifully reproduced vintage postcards from Japan and around the world.
The Roman-kan Building spans three floors, with the third floor hosting cultural events, workshops, and creative activities.

Motomachi Postcard Museum
Motomachi Postcard Museum

Time Roman – Motomachi Postcard Museum

4-6-9 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0022, Japan

TEL:078-958-8655
Opening Hours:10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.(Closed on Wednesdays)

Access:
8-minute walk from JR Motomachi Station (West Exit)
8-minute walk from Hanshin Motomachi Station (West Exit)
3-minute walk from Hanshin Nishi-Motomachi Station (East Exit)
2-minute walk from Hankyu Hanakuma Station
1-minute walk from Minato Motomachi Subway Station
16-minute walk from JR Sannomiya Station

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Floor Guide

  • 1FTeddy Bears, Vintage Postcards & Handmade Gifts

    Our shop offers an extensive selection of artist teddy bears, renowned brand bears, plush clothing, doll accessories, handmade crafts, postcards, and greeting cards.

    テディベア・絵葉書・ハンドメイド雑貨
  • 1FDoll Gallery & Boutique (Replica Dolls & Art Dolls)

    A gallery and shop where you can experience the beauty and unique character of every doll up close.
    Take your time to discover the personality and story behind each individual piece.

    (リプロダクションドール・制作ドール)
  • 1FRoman-kan Gallery (Cultural Classes & One-Day Workshops)

    A welcoming space for learning, creativity, and cultural workshops.
    Enjoy new discoveries and creative inspiration through dolls, art, and hands-on experiences.

    Classes & Gallery Information Current Workshops & Cultural Programs
    浪漫館ギャラリー

Doll

  • Art Dolls

    Admire the exquisite craftsmanship, delicate hand-painting, and beautiful sculptural details created by talented doll artists.

  • Replica Dolls

    Faithfully reproduced replica dolls handcrafted by artists inspired by original antique dolls.

  • European Antique Dolls

    Beautiful antique French Bébé dolls, each waiting to meet its next admirer.

  • Ichimatsu Dolls
    (Traditional Japanese Dolls)

    Traditional Japanese dress-up dolls that have been treasured for generations.

Blythe Dolls

We are an authorized Blythe retailer, recognized for our contribution to promoting Blythe culture.

Visit our Blythe Collection Page
We also offer a wide variety of doll accessories and collectibles!
  • Outfits
  • Accessories
  • Hats & Bonnets
  • Shoes & Socks

Teddy Bear

  • Artist Teddy Bears

    Experience the warmth and individuality of one-of-a-kind handmade teddy bears, each lovingly crafted by skilled artists.

  • Vintage Teddy Bears

    Cherished antique teddy bears that have been lovingly preserved through the years.

  • Brand Teddy Bears &
    Plush Toys

    Featuring world-renowned brands including Steiff, Merrythought, Hermann, and more.

  • Plush Toy Accessories

    A wide range of outfits and accessories for plush toys, available in various sizes.

Handmade items

  • Lifestyle Goods & Gifts

  • Bags & Pouches

  • Handcrafted Fabric Flowers

  • Decorative Accessories

Original goods

  • Reproduced Vintage Postcards from the Postcard Museum Collection

  • Kobe Doll Museum Exhibition Catalog

  • Photo Book from the Postcard Museum Collection

  • Kobe Doll Museum – Automata DVD

Online shop
Paypal
Worldwide

Time Roman Online Shop also offers international shipping.
For payments, we accept PayPal, one of the world’s most widely used online payment services, making it easy and secure for customers around the globe to shop with us.

Message from the Director

It all began with a collection—one we simply wanted to share with as many people as possible.

Our museum journey began in 2002 with the opening of the Kobe Doll Museum, inspired by the treasured collection of Western antique bisque dolls inherited from the owner’s grandparents. The museum was created to share their history, artistry, and cultural significance with the public.

Since then, the collection has grown into a museum complex in Tarumi, where we now operate five unique museums.

At Time Roman, our vision is to create a place where visitors can truly experience the passage of time.
We hope every visitor reconnects with cherished memories and leaves with a heart warmed by moments of nostalgia and discovery.

We will continue to preserve and share the quiet beauty of timeless treasures, passing their stories on to future generations while creating a museum loved by visitors from around the world.

We sincerely look forward to welcoming you.

Company Information

Established
December 1, 2001
Company Name
TIMEROMAN Co.,LTD.
KOBE DOLL MUSEUM
Postcard Museum
KOBE CLOCK DESIGN MUSEUM
KOBE PHOTO MUSEUM
FUJINO MUSEUM
Director
Kenji Fujino
Our Business
・Retail sales of dolls and teddy bears
・Operation of cultural classes and gallery spaces
・Management of the five-museum complex
・Consignment sales and purchasing of antique dolls
・Toy Skeleton® customization services
・Professional doll restoration and restringing services
・Artist Selection and Collaboration Program
・Development of original products
・Planning and management of events
・Operation of Time Roman’s Antique Market
・Workshop planning and production
・Publishing and sales of postcards and related publications
・Postcard Image Licensing Services
・Publishing Services (Postcard Publications)
・Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Live Camera (YouTube Live Streaming Service)
・Partnerships with Cultural Institutions (Tarumi Area)
Major Business Partners
Arc Oasis Design / Kinokuniya Bookstores / Kikuya Bookstore / Sanseido Bookstore / Seibunkan Bookstore / Junkudo Bookstore / TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE / HANDS / Toda Bookstore / MARUZEN/ LIBRO / LOFT / Major Bookstores Nationwide / Television Networks, TV Program & Commercial Production Companies, Publishers, and Advertising Agencies(Listed in Japanese syllabary order; honorifics omitted.)
Banking Partners
MUFG Bank, Kobe Branch / Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Sannomiya-Minami Branch
Products
Antique Dolls、Reproduction Dolls、Art Dolls、Teddy Bears、Outfits for Dolls & Plush Toys・Doll Accessories、Lace Accessories & Trimmings、A Wide Range of Doll-Related Items、Original Reproduced Vintage Postcards、Original Costumes for Plush Toys、Handmade Crafts & Gifts、Authorized Blythe RetailerPublication: A Journey Through Time in Postcards – Kobe City & Hyogo Prefecture, Vol. 1 (Meiji, Taisho & Showa Eras)
Memberships & Affiliations
Japan Teddy Bear Association / Japan Society for Doll and Toy Research / Japan Teddy Bear / Hyogo Museum Association
Secondhand Dealer License
Secondhand Dealer License No. 631130200036, Hyogo Prefural Public Safety Commission
Head Office
4-6-9 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0022, Japan Tel/Fax: +81-78-958-8655
Closed
Business Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Closed on Wednesdays (or the following day if Wednesday is a public holiday) and during the New Year holidays.
Tarumi Museum Complex (Five Museums)
1-7-20 Utashikiyama, Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0037, Japan Tel: +81-78-705-0080 (Museum Information Desk)
Open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (Advance Reservation Required)