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Hidden away inside a square stone building erected in 1945, the Tsujimura Jusaburo Doll Museum houses a surprising collection of colorful masterpieces created from exquisite silken fabric. These dolls and puppets, collectively referred to as “ningyo” in Japanese, aren’t cutesy toys made for children, but works of art created for Japanese bunraku puppet theater, or ready to be admired on display. Made in all shapes and sizes by the local expert artisan Jusaburo Tsujimura and his studio, the dolls have a surprising air of humanity, and the museum’s main atrium is filled with all the quirky faces and odd features that lend the works a sense of reality.

Jusaburo Tsujimura’s detailed figures were never meant to be toys, although some were certainly made to be played with, in the hands of a skilled expert. These “ningyo” were brought to the attention of many Japanese people back in the 1970s, when they appeared as part of a regular puppeteered TV show on Japanese public broadcasting, and the dolls’ striking features were at first said to frighten audiences. But the world quickly caught on to the beauty found in each of the expressive faces Jusaburo Tsujimura has created over the years, and visitors to the museum can now catch a glimpse of the huge variety found throughout the many different figures, ranging from traditional Japanese characters to foreign designs.

In fact, with faces sculpted so expertly out of silk, and painted with such delicate features, it would be understandable if the costumes turned into something of an afterthought. But on the contrary, the detailed outfits are an essential part of each doll, and Jusaburo Tsujimura and his proteges actually make each part out of real used clothing. The artist’s studio is full of vintage kimonos, donated by fans or found at flea markets, and snipped up into the tiny robes found on the museum’s dolls. The artist even traveled to France to purchase the perfect antique materials when he began to tackle a series of ningyo inspired by French cabaret. Travelers who get the chance to come to Miyoshi and see the museum more than once will be pleased to find out that the exhibits are changed about twice a year, meaning frequent visitors are treated to a huge variety of dolls and puppets, including their many different personalities and fashions.

Young museum-goers, and anyone hoping to see some dolls that are a little less realistic and a little more cute, will also be happy to spot Jusaburo Tsujimura’s glamorous little rabbits.

When possible, Jusaburo Tsujimura’s proteges hold gallery talks and performance events at the museum about once a month, where they answer questions about the dolls and give demonstrations of how the bunraku puppets are controlled by a skilled puppeteer. Located right in the middle of Miyoshi’s old Hondori shopping street, the Tsujimura Jusaburo Doll Museum is a must-see stop when exploring the heart of Miyoshi.