Photo/Illutration A 1.7-meter-high wooden musical toy that resembles a giant xylophone is set up on the fourth floor of the Arima Toys and Automata Museum in Kobe’s Kita Ward on May 9. Guests of Hotel Algo can play with toys around the clock. (Naoyuki Mori)

KOBE--Catering to those who can’t get enough of playing with toys, the Arima Toys and Automata Museum turned its third floor into hotel rooms so visitors can indulge in their hobby for as long as they want.

The toy museum in the city’s Kita Ward now operates as Hotel Algo as well. It is particularly popular among families and young couples who are die-hard fans of board games.

Located in the center of the famed Arima Onsen hot spring resort, the museum opened in 2003 with a collection of around 4,000 toys, including mechanical dolls and tin toys, from across Japan and Europe.

It closed temporarily last October for renovations and reopened as Hotel Algo in late April.

Four guest rooms are located on the third floor.

Each room has a floor space of about 40 square meters and is designed in the motif of an atelier of a toy designer. The rooms also come with a tatami-floored space for guests to enjoy playing board games and stacking blocks from Japan and overseas.

The museum continues to operate on the fourth through sixth floors.

Occupying a space of about 150 square meters, the fourth floor is lined with at least 100 toys for guests to have fun with. Among them are moving mechanical dolls and a large wooden musical toy that resembles a stair-stepped xylophone. Different notes are produced when a wooden ball is rolled from the top.

“We want this facility to be enjoyed by young and old alike,” said manager Shinya Matsuzaki, 30. “We hope our guests can realize the warmth of handmade toys.”

Room rates for two start at 44,000 yen ($310), including tax. No meals are served.

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