Hihokan – The Original International House of Hidden Treasures

In April 1971 Japan’s first Erotic Museum called a Hihokan which stands for “House of Hidden Treasures” opened its doors in Awa, Okushima.
However, the exhibits were limited to phallic/vulvic altar symbols and intercourse themed antiques as you could see since centuries in bigger Shinto shrines anyway.

But later in the same year when the “Original International House of Hidden Treasures” opened its doors in October 1971 in Ise, Mie, the term Hihokan entered the Japanese mainstream.

Masato Matsuno, entrepreneur and the founder of the Original International House of Hidden Treasures became an instant celebrity as “Professor Sex” and appeared in various TV and Radio shows.

In 1982 he published a book “The Hihokan” (Tomu Shobo) where he described his obsession with collecting all things related to sex.

I heard about this place in 2004 and wondered if it still existed, so I made the 500km trip down southwest from Tokyo to see it myself…and I was definitely not disappointed.

What I found was a unique time capsule, a sex museum which practically never changed their exhibits since 1971 and allowed for some interesting time travel into Japan’s juicy past.

Judging from the condition of the place, I just knew that this place has no future and I was right…short after my visit it closed down for good. Where all the exhibits went to – I have no idea, but I would like to know!

Long before I came close to Mie, I saw already the faded mascot, Hiho-Ojisan, point the way to the once famous Hihokan.

Hiho-Ojisan was the mascot of the Hihokan in Ise, Mie.

Click here to read more…