The Kobe Trick Art Museum — As Seen In Japan

From the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb to the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas, I try to seek out unusual attractions wherever I find myself. Some, like the Bernard Beer Spa and Corgi in the Garden, make for lifelong memories. Others, like Dracula’s Castle or the Leprechaun Museum, are pretty forgettable. I’ve even been to that little church in the middle of nowhere from the Bruce Springsteen commercial. Our city of Kobe is home to one of the very best, the Trick Art Museum.

She straight up killed that shark after this photo was taken. Lady does not play around.

Also known as Kobe Mysterious Consulate of Trick Art, the museum is located on the site of a former Panamanian Consulate, and, like many museums, is full of colorful works of art. The difference here is that these works of art are three-dimensional optical illusions that you can interact and pose with. If you take a picture in the right position and at the right angle, you can create trick photographs that place you at the center of the art.

The museum is located not far from Sannomiya, but unfortunately rests atop a hill, near a bunch of international buildings we remarked upon but have never visited. If you’re fit, you can hoof it from JR Sannomiya Station, though we chose to take a bus. The way back is downhill, so it was an easy walk on a nice day. There was quite a line, but it was no trouble to wait in since there was clever art even on the outside of the building.

It’s a good thing they don’t let too many people in at once because it’d be a total clusterforp in there if too many folks were inside.

The price of admission was very reasonable at only 800 yen. We got in quickly and made our way among the fun paintings.

This is an accurate picture. She would throw herself in front of a bus for free baked goods.

The museum is not big, and the building feels more like an old house than a proper museum. You’ll have to be okay with cramped spaces and stairs to get the most out of it.

Although the space is small, it takes a while to get through because you have to wait to take pictures in each room. There’s usually one piece per wall, and you’ll need to patiently stand back as others take their time to get just the right photo.

Some of the illusions work better than others. We’re including the best here, but there were some we couldn’t exactly get to look 3D.

This dude on the right about to get canceled by Twitter.

There are also some that don’t involve the viewer; they’re just neat pictures, which is nice, but the photos don’t quite conjure up the same happy memories, and you’ll certainly spend less time on them.

My wife would care to know the topic of discussion upon which you, Willis, are currently pontificating.

This brings me to the most important observation about the museum: it’s more fun with a friend. If you go by yourself, you’ll have to ask strangers to take pictures for you.

There were several rooms that only worked with two people, and for those, we had to ask for someone to take a picture of us. The issue with that is that if you go at the same pace as those around you, you’ll end up repeatedly asking the same people for favors. To solve this, we tried to break up our pace, hanging back at some times and going faster at others.

Luckily, no one forces you to go too fast, so you can try several poses at each exhibit to procure the best souvenir.

Not pictured: sharks ready to eat that fish before you can get it home.

I know I’m incredibly fortunate that I was able to attend with my wife, who is super fun and absolutely adorable. I mean, look at this:

We had a lot of fun there, and looking at the pictures makes all the good memories come back.

If you’re ever in Kobe, this is a must-do. It’s fun, and the photos are something people will actually want to look at, so they won’t mind when you show them your vacation pictures.