DIY Miniature House | Sakura O Kimono Shop

I’ve always been fascinated by Japanese culture and tradition. It all started when I saw the James Bond movie: You Only Live Twice. It was the first time I saw the people and places of Japan in color and in a modern setting. Before that I had only seen them in grainy black and white photos taken during and after World War II.

There was something alluring and magnetic about the Japanese people-unlike any group of people I had witnessed in the United States. There was a certain nobility-a pride-a cultural and traditional presence.

I started reading up on the history of Japan and became interested in Japanese garments- especially the Kimono. The Kimono are elegant, simple and attention grabbing.

When Cutebee sent me its DIY Miniature House Sakura O Kimono Shop (part of its City Walk Series) I was delighted. At last I could see, build and display a real piece of Japanese culture and tradition complete with Japanese script and architecture.

The Miniature House Sakura O Kimono Shop comes packaged in a heavy cardboard, flip-lid box with fold-in tabs. Covering the entire box is a slipcase featuring a full-color cover photo of the Miniature House Sakura O Kimono Shop, smaller versions of the photos are on the right and left sides along with other small photos of other Cutebee Dollhouses accompanied by full specifications.

The kit is recommended for those eight years old an older and is made of MDF board, paper, stickers and wire.

It is a great kit for kids because it encourages STEM and Critical Thinkgs Skills.  It aids children with eye-hand coordination, planning, visual recognition and patience.

Six boards with numbered parts (matching the enclosed instruction pamphlet's part numbers) come with a sticker sheet and a sealed battery box with wires. The boards are shrink-wrapped with clear plastic and all of the components fit neatly into the box.

I recommend looking over the instruction pamphlet first in order to familiarize yourself with its contents and suggestions.

Start by checking out the battery pack and wires to make sure the lights work.

Carefully follow the instructions and pop out the pieces to use them as you need them. A pair of tweezers, an Xacto knife, a small flathead screwdriver (for gentle pushing out the pieces from their boards) and liquid glue (just in case you break a piece-which is highly unlikely as the pieces are pretty rugged).

Each board features full-color components and the pieces are easy to remove. Take your time.

It’s a remarkable wooden DIY Dollhouse kit with its tile roofs, bamboo slates and shelves, ornate building fascia designs on the front and door (that opens) with open front and sides for easy viewing of the stores' contents.

Inside are multiple shelves and Kimono hangers complete with multi-color Kimonos. The shop comes with a cabinet with small selves complete with various shop objects such as cache of fabric tools, magazines, a tie mannequin, and a small two-drawer chest. Three small drawers and several shelves hold books, bottles and other ephemera.

Above the chest is a horizontal rack of Kimono fabric. Other counters hold Kimonos-all folded. A large vertical mirror is included along with a chair and table with a small round mirror, hanging fabric, hanging lamps and several rolls of spooled thread. Hanging from the ceiling are several Kimonos.

Outside on the left of building is a blooming cherry tree. A side display window has a small six-pane window above it. The front features a store sign in Japanese, several plants in a planter, a small shrine, a board with Japanese symbols and two Kimono hanging on three legged stands.

The building sits on a multi-gray stone foundation. The right side of the building has a large multi-panel window with a small window above it with a flower box and a hidden switch to turn on the lights.

The back of the building houses the battery pack that is accessed through a small panel with a latch.

All of the various components and objects assemble to make the charming Sakura O Kimono Shop to pop with bright colors, colorful displays and traditional design all highlighted by the lighting.

This is a wonderful kit for younger children and goes together fairly quickly with no fuss or problems. It looks wonderful on a bookcase, shelf or table.

I highly recommend Cutebee’s other Dollhouse kits and merchandise. Click this link to visit Cutebee’s website and click here to see a video of the Sakura O Kimono Shop Dollhouse Kit.  Click here for photos.

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.