The Kyoto Arashiyama Music Box Museum

Highlight

An automata of Pierrot Ecrivain hurriedly lighting a lamp to keep sleep from his eyes (1895)

Illuminating a beautiful automated past

This museum has taken over the entire collection of 2,000 music boxes that belonged to one of the world’s prominent music box collectors Guide Reuge, the founder of a Swiss music box manufacturer. With regular changes made, more than 100 pieces of the 2,000-piece collection are on display at any one time, with explanations and performances provided.
Among the exhibits, there are extremely rare and famous pieces, such as the world’s oldest music box, made by the 18th century clockmaker Antoine Fabre, one of the snuff music boxes ordered by Napoleon to give to his generals after winning the war against Austria, and automata monkey musicians adored by Maria Antoinette. Here, Automata mean automated dolls that are wound up to move in actions such as writing or playing music in accompaniment to the music of the box.
The museum has a shop as well as a café where visitors can listen to the music boxes while shopping or dining.