Click here to view map of this section of Tokyo.....

        "...... the area around the museum is very hilly - (like San Francisco kind of hills).  Also, because the museum is in the "suburbs" (if you can call wall-to-wall houses and tiny streets "suburbs") the train stations are mostly private lines, and not as "English" friendly as the JR (Japan Rail) ones further into the downtown area.     Knowing the address is very important.  Each utility pole will have the name of the area (SETA) (usually only in Kanji), the "chome" (pronounced cho-may) number(1), and the block number (5).   A taxi driver will probably not have heard of it, but they (or the train station people) may have encountered St. Mary's International School, which is just up the (west if I remember right) hill from the school.  If you get to St. Mary's, it is an easy downhill walk to the museum. 

    By Train: Take  Shin-Tamagawa  line to Kami Noge (ka-me noh-gay) station (visible on the map).  The exit from the station will bring you out to that main street.  As you exit the station, cross the major street and turn right. You will walk for about 10 -15 minutes until you walk past the University (think small) on the left, and see the post-office on the corner across the street (look for that little T symbol with the line over it which means post office).  Turn left.  Do not be deceived by the lines on the map - although it is a "main" road that passes the museum, it is still a narrow 1-car-wide street.  Clue, however, is that it slants downhill steeply, with a tiny sidewalk on the right-hand side.  Look for utility pole signs that change from Seta 3 chome (where you just came from - left side of the street) to Seta 1 chome(on the right side of the street).  Also the intersection has been named (useful for taxi drivers and locals) "Tamabidai-mae" (tah-mah-bee-dah-ee my)...can't recall if there was a sign on the intersection, or if it was also in "romaji" (Alphabet letters).  As you walk down the hill, you should note that the utility poles on the right side of the street will change from Seta 1-18 to Seta 1-16, then Seta 1-5.  There are also two streets that enter from the right, only a few yards apart... OK, so these streets look more like driveways.... they're still streets.  As you face these two tiny streets, the one on your left divides block 5 from block 16, and the temari museum (in block 5 - to the left) will be the first building on the corner.  You will need to walk up-hill on this tiny street a short distance to access the entrance. (red rectangle on the map)

    Do note that from the outside, the Temari Museum looks like nearly any other small Japanese house.  I believe there is a bell to ring.   Just inside the door, you will need to remove your shoes. Most of us find the concept of "museum" to be some large building housing thousands of artifacts.  It is most surprising to discover that the temari museum in Tokyo is housed in a tiny building, and comprises of a single room with several display cases.  As is typical of these small Japanese "museums", they frequently change their displays so you can return week after week and see something different...."