Stuffed Animal Shrine in Kyoto Offers Memorial Rituals for Plush Companions

A Stuffed Animal Shrine has opened in Miyama, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, operated by the Mofumofu-kai Stuffed Animal Hospital. Located within a 28-hectare forest, the shrine treats stuffed animals as companions deserving gratitude and ceremonial care, combining Shinto-inspired elements with environmental stewardship. Features include a timber torii gate, thatched-roof architecture, bear-shaped windows, and carved guardian figures. A planned Thank You Memorial service invites visitors to express gratitude for their plush toys, while future plans include a Star-Connecting House for reflection. The shrine's Forest Guardian Society supports tree planting, educational programs, seasonal events, and volunteer activities such as acorn planting festivals and forest bathing. The project also develops a fictional universe with original characters Milda, Puffty, and Mofu-kun, and an illustrated picture book. Memorial services for dolls and sewing needles already exist in Japan; this shrine extends that tradition to stuffed animals.