Did You Know This Hidden Museum In Japan Displays Rocks That Look Like Faces?
All these rocks were carved by nature, not people.
By Ian Wee — 16 May 2025, 01:12 PM
There are museums for everything from textiles to electronics, but have you heard of a museum for rocks that look like human faces?
Located in Chichibu, about two hours northwest of Tokyo, Chinsekikan (which means "Hall of Curious Stones") is a quirky little museum that displays a collection of over 1,700 rocks, all of which look like human faces.
What's amazing is that all of these rocks are naturally formed!
Shoji Hayama, the original curator, had only one requirement for adding a rock to his museum: it had to be collected from nature.
All these rocks show a variety of odd "facial expressions", from smiles to looks of surprise.
Many of these faces bear a resemblance to famous cultural figures!
Among these celebrities are Elvis Presley, Donkey Kong, Mickey Mouse, and even politicians such as former Russian president Boris Yeltsin.
Visitors are encouraged to name rocks and to donate their own to the collection — of course, the only requirement is that it must look like a recognisable face.
If you're ever in Japan and wish to visit Chinsekikan, the musem is a convenient 15-minute walk from Kagemori Station. It is certainly a quirky and worthwhile detour!
It is open from 10am to 5pm every day except Tuesdays, but it is recommended to call ahead and make an appointment as the museum is known to close for personal reasons.
Bring along a rock with a face if you wish to contribute to the ever-growing collection, and be ready to name some rocks yourself!
