A World Expo Pavilion–Like Experience! Review of the Renovated Javier Castle Museum
Shima Spain Village is home to one especially striking attraction: the Javier Castle Museum.
Javier Castle Museum looks like a full-scale castle, and its interior reopened after renovations on April 18, 2026. New additions include a Gaudí section and exhibits about the Sagrada Família.
This is the first renovation since the park opened in 1994, 32 years ago.
I went to see it right away!!
Anyone who visited international pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will probably feel plenty of that World Expo atmosphere here.
A thorough visit takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Here is what makes the Javier Castle Museum worth seeing.
What Is Javier Castle? Experience Spanish Culture Through Videos and Exhibits in a Setting Like a World Expo Pavilion
Javier Castle is a stone-built castle that feels like stepping into an old European fortress!
It is located inside Shima Spain Village and is modeled after the real Castle of Javier in Spain.
There are many photogenic spots around the gate and along the approach before you enter the castle, so the fun begins even before you go inside.
The real Castle of Javier in Navarre, Spain, was the childhood home of Francis Xavier, who introduced Christianity to Japan.
Time Needed, Location, and Admission
A quick walk-through takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Allow around 60 minutes if you mainly want to see the newly renovated exhibits, or about 90 minutes to explore everything carefully.
After entering Shima Spain Village, walk through the arcade and continue straight through the building ahead. The museum will appear on your right.
There is no additional charge beyond admission to Shima Spain Village.
The Gaudí Section Is a Must-See for Sagrada Família Fans
One of the highlights after the renovation is the new Gaudí section on the first floor.
The exhibits introduce Gaudí’s architecture and ideas, including the Sagrada Família.
The experience feels similar to learning about a country’s culture, architecture, and vision for the future inside an international World Expo pavilion. Even a short visit may leave you wanting to know more about Spain.
Map of Barcelona and Gaudí’s Major Architectural Works
The first exhibit after entering Javier Castle is the “Gaudí Section.”
Barcelona is home not only to the Sagrada Família but also to many other buildings and parks designed by Gaudí.
A display filled with photos and a map of these sites immediately caught my eye.
| Building | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Sagrada Família | Gaudí’s architectural icon, with breathtaking exterior sculptures, towers, and interior lighting |
| Park Güell | A storybook-like park with mosaics, flowing curves, and a plaza overlooking the city |
| Casa Batlló | Known for its bone-like columns, undulating façade, and roof resembling a dragon |
| Casa Milà / La Pedrera | Highlights include a wave-like exterior and a rooftop that feels like a forest of sculptures |
| Casa Vicens | An early Gaudí residence admired for its beautiful tilework and colors |
| Palau Güell | A stately mansion where Gaudí’s style appears in the ironwork and rooftop chimneys |
| Crypt of the Church of Colònia Güell | An experimental, unfinished structure near Barcelona that foreshadowed the Sagrada Família |
| Güell Estate / Güell Pavilions | An early Gaudí work known for its dragon gate |
| Casa Calvet | A residence with a comparatively restrained façade that is easy to view in the city |
| Bellesguard | A medieval castle-like building with appealing towers and stonework |
Several buildings and architectural features at Shima Spain Village were also inspired by Gaudí.
One example is Park Güell. At Shima Spain Village, the building called Plaza Güell has a rooftop visitors can access.
You can enjoy its decorated walls and monuments.
After learning about Gaudí, walking around the park may feel like a Spanish vacation centered on architecture.
There is also a special thrill in first enjoying the rides without knowing the background, then discovering these connections when you visit Javier Castle.
Javier Castle Museum Highlight: Sagrada Família Exhibits
As you move through the displays and explanations, you begin to understand that the Sagrada Família is more than a large and beautiful building. It is an architectural work shaped by deep attention to nature, light, prayer, and structural design.
The Construction History of the Sagrada Família
The construction-history section begins with a photo of the crypt from 1886, four years after building work started on March 19, 1882.
The exhibit conveys the roughly 141 years of construction through 2023.
In 2026, the 172.5-meter main tower, the Tower of Jesus Christ, will be completed as the principal element of the exterior, while full completion is said to be expected in 2034 or 2035.
The astonishing timeline spans 153 years.
Upside-Down Funicular Model
In this model, chains are suspended from the ceiling with the structure turned upside down.
When weights are attached, the chains form curves that define the shapes of roofs and other building elements.
Forms created by gravity are structurally strong when built right-side up, producing mysterious interior shapes that seem to stretch toward the sky.
At Shima Spain Village, chains hang above a mirror directly below them. Looking into the mirror reveals the shape of the building.
Sagrada Família Ornamentation
The exhibit introduces decorative figures including Jesus Christ, Mary, Elizabeth, and Saint Zechariah from the New Testament.
Works by Gaudí
One display shows a university auditorium Gaudí drew as a student.
Its precision and beauty reveal that his talent was already evident during his student years.
Javier Castle Museum Highlight: Seville’s Spring Fair
This area lets you experience the atmosphere of the Seville Spring Fair, one of Spain’s three major festivals, held every spring.
Javier Castle Museum Highlight: Welcome Theater Featuring Spanish Cities and Festivals
The theater shows aerial footage and famous sights from Barcelona, Madrid, and other parts of Spain.
Although the presentation itself is not actually in Spain, it reminded me of the destination showcases inside the pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and made me feel nostalgic.
Watching the video made me want to travel to Spain.
Javier Castle Museum Highlight: Altamira Cave and Colorful Cro-Magnon Paintings
In northern Spain, animal paintings of cattle, horses, and other creatures made by Cro-Magnon people during the Paleolithic period about 18,000 years ago are now recognized as a World Heritage site.
Here, visitors can see a replica of the archaeological site.
The display existed before the renovation, but a new video now tells the story of María, the girl who discovered the paintings, and her father, making the circumstances of the discovery easy to understand.
Javier Castle Museum Highlight: Don Quixote Introduction
New sections introduce the characters from the Spanish classic “Don Quixote” and the characters of Shima Spain Village.
You can learn about chivalric romances and enjoy a video dramatization that reads famous scenes from Don Quixote aloud.
Because the story is connected to the park’s characters, seeing this section may slightly change how you view Shima Spain Village.
Javier Castle Living Room: The Castle Where Francis Xavier Lived
You can see a recreation of everyday life from the period when Francis Xavier spent his childhood here.
Xavier, or Javier in Spanish, was born into a noble family.
Looking out the windows is also recommended, as you can enjoy views from the hilltop.
Javier Castle Museum Highlight: Exhibits About Spain
Displays include gigantes, enormous festival figures operated by people standing inside them,
traditional Spanish costumes,
and introductions to crafts such as blacksmithing and pottery workshops.
The Valencian Kitchen is also a major gallery at Spain’s National Museum of Decorative Arts. It was moved from a late-18th-century aristocratic residence and reconstructed in its original arrangement.
An Immersive Exhibit You Enter While Walking, Not Just Viewing
Once inside, I found that this was less a museum for quietly viewing displays and more a place to experience Spanish history and culture while moving among videos and physical exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Javier Castle Museum
Where Is Javier Castle?
The Javier Castle Museum is inside Parque España at Shima Spain Village in Shima, Mie Prefecture. Because it is located within the park, admission to the park is required.
How Long Does the Javier Castle Museum Take?
A quick look at the exhibits takes about 30 minutes. For photos and a careful visit while reading the explanations, plan on about 60 to 90 minutes.
What Can You See at the Javier Castle Museum?
Visitors can enjoy exhibits about Spanish history and culture, Gaudí, the Sagrada Família, Altamira Cave, Don Quixote, Spanish festivals, crafts, and more.
Is It the Same as Javier Castle in Spain?
The Javier Castle Museum at Shima Spain Village is a museum modeled after the birthplace and childhood home of Francis Xavier. It is separate from the real Castle of Javier in Navarre, Spain, but visitors can enjoy a building inspired by the castle associated with Xavier.
Summary: The Javier Castle Museum Is a “Pavilion of Spanish Culture” Inside Shima Spain Village
Through video and physical exhibits, the Javier Castle Museum offers an immersive look at Spanish history, culture, and art.
Exploring the castle while encountering the worlds of Gaudí, the Sagrada Família, and Don Quixote feels like touring a small World Expo pavilion inside Shima Spain Village.
It is recommended for visitors who want more than rides and shows and would also like a taste of Spanish culture. When you visit Shima Spain Village, do more than photograph the exterior—step inside the castle and enjoy the full experience.
Discount Available on Asoview: Shima Spain Village Tickets
How to Get to Shima Spain Village
From Osaka-Namba, take a Kintetsu Ise-Shima Liner bound for Kashikojima. The trip to Ugata Station takes about 2 hours 25 minutes and costs about US$27.56 for an adult. From Ugata Station, take the bus to Shima Spain Village for about 13 minutes; the fare is about US$3.13 for adults and US$1.56 for children.
By car from the Ise Jingu area, the recommended route is the Ise-Futami-Toba Line toll-free section, followed by the Second Ise Road toll-free section, Toba-Minami/Shiraki IC, and National Route 167.
Your navigation system or Google Maps may suggest Prefectural Route 32, the Ise Road, but use caution because it is a mountain road with many curves and elevation changes.
A Gaudí exhibition is also being held in Osaka through June 15. Seeing both exhibitions should deepen your understanding of Gaudí and the Sagrada Família.
Shima Spain Village: Highlights, Time Needed, and the Best Way to Explore for Adults
Exchange rate used: US$1 = ¥160.
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