Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse in Fukui Prefecture will host "That Time's Longing - Showa and Heisei OMOCHA Exhibition" from March 12, 2026, showcasing a nostalgic collection of toys that captured children's hearts across generations.
OMOCHA Was the Gateway to Dreams
For children, "OMOCHA" (toys) were never just playthings. They were the first gateway to reaching dreams—of becoming heroes, admiring someone special, or exploring the world.
Across every era, OMOCHA holds children's aspirations and memories of hours spent playing. Children clutched palm-sized toys, trying to get closer to the heroes and heroines they saw on TV, running, moving them, gathering with friends, and bringing those dreams into their daily lives.
This exhibition views Showa and Heisei era OMOCHA not as mere "nostalgic items," but as tangible memories where children's "aspirations" and "imagination" once resided.
Relive Those Cherished Dreams
Experience those aspirations once more in the nostalgic atmosphere of Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse.
Venue: Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse, Diorama Hall
Period: March 12 (Thursday) to May 12 (Tuesday), 2026
Closed on Wednesdays (open if Wednesday falls on a holiday)
Also closed on April 28 (Tuesday) and May 7 (Thursday)
Hours: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (Last admission 5:00 PM)
Admission: Included with Diorama Hall entry fee
Adults: ¥400 / Elementary students and younger: ¥200 (Free for children under 3)
The exhibition introduces vehicle toys and tin toys from the Showa era that expanded children's worlds, hero, heroine, and idol toys from beloved TV shows, and bestselling toys that remain popular today—games that had everyone gathering and playing with intense focus. Giant hero photo spots will also appear!
Exhibition Themes
- OMOCHA that always walked with you and gave you courage
- OMOCHA that expanded your world and inflated your dreams when you moved them
- OMOCHA that you challenged enthusiastically with everyone gathering, thinking "Someday for sure!"
- OMOCHA you played with while yearning and pretending to be part of a sparkling world
Related Events
SNS Campaign
Post images taken at the exhibition on SNS (Instagram or X) with both hashtags "#OMOCHA" and "#敦賀赤レンガ倉庫" (Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse). Show your post to venue staff to receive a sticker!
*While supplies last
Make a Clattering TOY Keychain!
Choose your favorite toy parts and create a clattering keychain filled with beads and sequins.
Dates: April 4 (Saturday) and April 5 (Sunday)
Times: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM / 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (ends when capacity is reached)
Capacity: First 50 participants each day
Fee: ¥300
*All photos are for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual items. Event content is subject to change without notice. Please check the website for details.
About the Red Brick Warehouse
Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, flourished as an international city from the Meiji to early Showa periods, connecting to continental Europe via Russia. The Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse, a symbol of this era, was built in 1905 as an oil storage facility designed by a foreign engineer. It later served as a military supply warehouse and kelp storage facility, making it one of Fukui Prefecture's most significant brick buildings. In January 2009, the North Building, South Building, and brick walls were registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties.
This symbol of the port town of Tsuruga was reborn in October 2015, with the North Building transformed into a Railway and Port Diorama Hall, and the South Building into a Restaurant Hall where visitors can enjoy meals in the red brick space. Together with the open garden, it serves as a core tourism facility connecting various attractions throughout Tsuruga, showcasing the city's charm.
The facility features a diorama recreating Tsuruga's golden age (late Meiji to early Showa) that balances historical accuracy with entertainment, restaurants offering Tsuruga's unique appeal, and spaces where visitors can relax and enjoy the sea breeze and greenery.
