When you combine colors, light and reflection, you get a kaleidoscope, a small cylindrical device with tiny pieces of broken mirrors and beads, etc. that create wonderful shapes and formations seen through a small hole from one end of the device. However, at the Kaleidoscope Museum, at the heart of the Canadian Village in Niji No Sato, you will see more than just typical kaleidoscopes. One thing that amazed me was a box-type kaleidoscope that showed images of trains reflected in several mirrors inside, creating different perspectives of a train.
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The Kaleidoscope Museum in Izu City
One of the must-visit places in Niji no Sato
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Community writer

Glass-encased, hand-made kaleidoscopes and their accessories

Nelson Hall at the Canadian Village in Niji no Sato
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Welcome to the Kaleidoscope Museum!
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The first floor of Nelson Hall

One of the handmade kaleidoscopes

The collection of kaleidoscopes that give different interesting art formations

By the wall, you will see the symmetrical colors and light formations from some of the kaleidoscopes captured in enlarged pictures.

One of the interesting formations I saw inside a cylindrical kaleidoscope
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Here's another pentagon-shaped color and light combination

This is one of those kaleidoscopes that amused me because pictures of trains are reflected against the many mirrors inside, creating a unique result.

It looks like a disco ball, but this is just one of those formations that awed me.

The stairs going back to the first floor with wall designs patterned after the art formations found inside the kaleidoscopes
Join the discussion
Justin: Kaleidoscope museums are not that popular, and this particular museum I visited is located far from the station and in the mountains already, it's only one of the small sites within a big one.
Justin Velgus
9 years ago
Wow! I recently visited a kaleidoscope museum outside Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture and was surprised to know there was at least one other on in Japan!
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