World's first stuffed doll shrine opens in Kyoto, Japan

The world's first "Plush Doll Shrine" was built in Miyama Town, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan on the 20th of this month.

The architectural appearance of this shrine incorporates plush doll elements everywhere. Not only do cute ears grow on the top of the wooden torii gates, but the windows of the worship hall are also specially designed in the shape of cute little bears, attracting a large number of people to make pilgrimages with their beloved plush dolls.

"TBS" reported that this unique shrine was planned and built by a local company that specializes in repairing plush dolls. The industry owner said that since the repair of dolls has its physical limits after all, in order to give owners a place to express their gratitude and farewell to their beloved companions who have been with them for many years when faced with irreparable dolls, they decided to establish this shrine to provide people with dolls to worship or make offerings.

In an interview, the founder Horiguchi Minako said that he hopes that people of all ages, from children to adults, can visit this place, so that everyone can cultivate a warm and caring heart here. Female citizens who came to visit also shared with emotion that although this is a shrine, it makes people feel very close and it is a place where the soul can be completely healed.

The shrine also revealed future follow-up plans. It is expected to further build a "Nagodo Hall" (Nakodo Hall) within the shrine with a function similar to that of a ossuary. It will be specially used to place the ashes of the dolls after they have retired from service and been offered and incinerated, so that these plush family members who carry full of memories can have the most satisfactory ending.