The Felissimo Chocolate Museum in Kobe’s Shinko area has launched three new exhibitions under the theme “Dreams and Hopes Delivered by Chocolate.”
Opening on October 11, 2025, the show spotlights the imaginative world of chocolate through art, featuring colorful installations by artist Sebastian Masuda, feline-themed chocolate packaging, and an interactive pastry-inspired art experience.
At the heart of the event stands the museum’s latest attraction — a “Story Vending Machine” that turns literature into a tangible moment of wonder.
Sebastian Masuda’s KAWAII Chocolate Magic
This exhibition unravels Masuda’s long-held passion for chocolate and his collection of vintage confectionery boxes, revealing the origins of his creative vision.
Debuting here are wall installations inspired by sweets, along with installation art pieces crafted from Masuda’s own confectionery box collection.
Sebastian Masuda’s “KAWAII Chocolate Magic.”
The show also features digital sketches from the Japanese musical production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, for which Masuda served as art director.
Through these works, visitors can rediscover the pure excitement of holding a single piece of chocolate in their hands — a reminder of Masuda’s message that “Fantasy is the door to reality.”
It’s a playful yet deeply imaginative space where chocolate becomes a key to creativity and joy.
“Mountain of Memories,” an installation series set in a bedroom space.
The “Story Vending Machine” — Where Words Come to Life
The “Story Vending Machine” installed in the exhibition space.
Among the highlights of the exhibition is the Story Vending Machine, a creative collaboration with TOHAN Corporation, Japan’s leading book distributor.
Visitors can press a button to receive a printed slip featuring a random excerpt from Roald Dahl’s classic “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
A mechanism that prints a random excerpt from a story.
The device transforms the act of reading into a sensory experience — much like unwrapping a piece of chocolate to discover a surprise inside.
Each visitor takes home a different line from the story, creating a shared sense of discovery and imagination across the exhibition space.
The original book of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
The machine will be available for three months only (from October 24, 2025, to mid-January 2026), offering a poetic encounter where literature meets everyday magic.
March of the Cats – Feline Chocolate Packages from Around the World
“March of the Cats” displayed on both sides of the room.
This exhibition showcases around 100 cat-themed chocolate packages from the museum’s extensive collection.
A delightful variety of cat-themed chocolate packages.From adorable and elegant designs to the whimsically mysterious, these packages illustrate how chocolatiers have long used cats as symbols of charm and sophistication.
Many of the packages are irresistibly charming — you might want to collect them all.
Why do so many chocolate brands choose cats?
And why are collectors irresistibly drawn to them?
The display invites visitors to ponder these questions while simply enjoying the delightful world of feline design.
Savoring Sweets with the Senses – Pâtisserie marimo
Visitors can freely attach and arrange them on the wall with magnets.
Artist Marimo Yoshida transforms the exhibition space into a playful “imaginary pâtisserie.”
Her interactive art pieces allow visitors to touch, sit on, and even photograph colorful confectionery-inspired sculptures.
Art boxes created with monthly themes.
Each work reflects Yoshida’s personal memories, decorated with layers of nostalgia and imagination — inviting guests to rediscover their own sweet moments hidden within.
Opening the October-themed box.
Chocolate as Art, Design, and Imagination
Through these three exhibitions and the special Story Vending Machine installation, the museum explores how chocolate transcends its role as food — becoming a medium of creativity, cultural expression, and emotional connection.
In an era of rising cacao prices and global change, the Felissimo Chocolate Museum offers visitors a chance to rediscover the hope, playfulness, and fantasy that chocolate continues to inspire.
Exhibition Details
Title: Felissimo Chocolate Museum – Three Special Exhibitions
Dates: October 11, 2025 – April 5, 2026
(The Story Vending Machine will be available until mid-January 2026)
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry 5:30 PM)
Venue: Felissimo Chocolate Museum (Stage Felissimo 2F)
7-1 Shinkocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan
Advance Booking & Tickets: https://feli.jp/s/pr250917/3/
