Reference/Local/Exhibition/Literature Museum Spots in Nagano Area

  • Hokusai-kan
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    4.0
    225 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Obuse 485
    This museum was built to commemorate famed artist Katsushika Hokusai, who stayed in Obuse several times from the age of 83 and left several works behind there. The museum displays hanging scrolls and hand-painted pictures by Hokusai as well as videos which present the history of the artist. The main exhibition room contains two festival floats whose ceilings were painted with Hokusai's Surging Waves and Dragon and Chinese Phoenix. A 12-minute walk from Obuse Station.

    I happily found out about the Hokusai-kan museum from my hotel proprietor and I was able to make a stop off in Obuse on my way back to Nagano. Hokusai-kan is situated in a great part of the town and...

  • Togakushi Folk Museum / Togakushi Ninja Museum / Ninja Trick Mansion
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    4.5
    85 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Togakushi 3688-12
    This is a facility in the Togakushi ninja village in Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, separated into three buildings: the Togakushi Folk Museum, the Togakushi Ninja Museum, and the Ninja Trick Mansion. The Togakushi Folk Museum, restored from an Edo period rice tax granary building, displays 2,000 items relating to everyday items that support local customs. The Togakushi Ninja Museum has around 500 items including ninja tools and various ninja documents by which one can learn about Togakushi ninja arts. The Ninja Trick Mansion is full of activities that even adults can enjoy like children. With a shuriken (throwing star) dojo and coffee house, it is a spot that adults and children can play around for a whole day.

    Maybe not worth a trip on its own unless youre really into ninjas, but if youre visiting Togakushi Shrine this is definitely worth a side trip.

  • Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum
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    4.5
    25 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Chinoshi Miyagawa 389-1
    This local museum is in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture. It displays documents and historical records concerning the Moriya clan, high ranking Shinto priests at Suwa Taisha Kamisha Shrine starting in the Middle Ages. Its ancient documents provide a record of Nagano long ago and a valuable picture of the period. It has both planned exhibits and a permanent exhibit with ancient documents that have been designated as Prefectural Treasures and Chino City Cultural Property.

    「建築家、藤森照信さん」と「諏訪エリアの土着文化からの歴史」の2つの興味目的のための「神長官守矢資料館」です。 一つ目の「建築家、藤森照信さん」は、この「神長官守矢資料館」を設計した建物のユニークさ、建築技術目的ですね。近くには「空飛ぶ泥舟」という建築家、藤森照信さんワールドを象徴した建築物もあります。 一方、「諏訪エリアの土着文化からの歴史」は、ミシャグジ信仰(民間信仰)、守矢族、諏訪大社(御頭...

  • Matsumoto  Scale Museum
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    4.0
    28 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Chuou 3-4-21
    This is a museum in the warehouse-lined Nakamachi Street, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, in the building occupied by weights and measures specialist Takeuchi Doryoko from 1902 to 1986. They have collected and exhibit over 1,000 items related to devices that weigh, measure and calculate from both Japan and abroad. The quiet courtyard is one of the standout charms. The nearest station is Matsumoto Station.

    Because I was in the area, and because the entry fee was low, I stopped in, and was the only person in this small museum. Still thought it was pretty interesting! I recommend that anyone in the...

  • Fukushima Sekisho Museum
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    4.0
    15 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Kisogunkisomachi Fukushima Seki cho 5031-1
    You’ll find this archive in Fukushima Sekimachi of Kiso Town. It has been situated on a key point along the Nakasendo, one of the five major highways radiating from Edo, for about 270 years, and it features a faithful restoration of the Fukushima checkpoint, one of the four major checkpoints. You’ll find exhibits with documents related to the checkpoint, as well as historical transport restrictions such as the “iriteppo” and “deonna” policies.

    Very historic place .The important Sekisho which is the control gate of old Edo era road Nakasendo. Even the princes of the emperor had passed here to go to Tokyo in the 18th century. The people here...

  • Japan Clay Doll Museum
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    4.0
    13 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Nakano-shi Nakano 1150
    A museum located in Higashiyama Park whose design is based off azekura-zukuri log storehouse architecture. The museum preserves and displays a collection of over 2,000 clay dolls from around the country, including Nakano tsuchi ningyo dolls. Visitors can also enjoy fun activity in which they can receive a plain white figurine to paint how they like. The clay doll painting activity takes between 30 minutes and three hours. Surrounded by the museum's warm, woody design, you can decorate your very own tsuchi ningyo doll.

    中野市に位置している人形を展示している施設です。地元の作家が作ったものもかなり多くあり観光におすすめです。

  • Kiso Living Craft Center
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    4.0
    13 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Shiojirishi Kisohirasawa 2272-7
    At Kiso Living Craft Center you can learn about the techniques and history of traditional crafts such as wood culture and lacquer work. On the second floor is a craftsman gallery where crafts people are introduced and products are put on display and on sale. In the restaurant you can try the main course Japanese dishes which are made with local ingredients. And in the cafe owned by a person from Finland you can see their own hand crafted items on display. Also on sale are selected specially made products from Shiojiri and Kiso such as pickles, local sake, and Shiojiri wine. Visitors are welcome to have a go at creating their own traditional craft works when booking in advance. (Reservations are required two weeks in advance)

    漆器は勿論、白木の木工製品やワイン、地酒などお土産が揃います。サクッと地元のお土産を買いたい時には便利です。

  • Yoshinaka-yakata
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    3.5
    10 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Kiso-gun Kisomachi Hiyoshi 290-1
    A museum located in Hiyoshi, Kiso Town, Kiso County, Nagano Prefecture. The museum contains exhibits on late Heian period military commander Minamoto no Yoshinaka (also known as Kiso Yoshinaka), who was raised in Hiyoshi from childhood, presenting the man's life and achievements via documents and other historical materials as well as dioramas and mannequins. The museum also adjoins the Tokuonji Temple, the location of the graves of Yoshinaka and Tomoe Gozen, a female samurai who was one of the warriors to serve under the commander.

    歴史的には平清盛と源頼朝がどうしても注目されますが、忘れてはいけないのが同じくらいの勢力を誇った源義仲。木曽の山奥から平氏打倒を目指した熱い想いがよく分かります。資料も豊富で興味深いです。

  • Narakawa Historical and Folklore Museum
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    3.5
    9 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Shiojiri-shi Narai 68
    An 18-minute walk from Narai Station on the JR Chuo Main Line. This museum is located at the entrance to the Torii Pass and was opened in 1973. Here visitors can experience how the lives of the people of Kiso changed between the time the area was a post station town in the Edo period through the Meiji and Taisho periods and on into the Showa period. The museum building is modeled after a traditional Japanese home. The first floor primarily contains displays of tools and everyday items used in the Edo period, and here visitors will feel like they've traveled back in time. Exhibits include actual implements still used in festivals held by Shizume Shrine today, everyday folk articles dating to as far back as the Edo period, and other folk materials, as well as inn tags used as currency in post station towns.

    2022年11月4日に訪問すると こちらは(土)(日)(祝)のみの開館(添付 写真参照)となっていましたので こちらを訪問予定されている方は この点留意願います。[奈良井宿]内の他の2施設[中村家住宅(櫛問屋)国重要文化財][手塚家住宅(上問屋史料館)国重要文化財]は 特に問題なく入館出来ました。

  • Oiwake-juku Folk Museum
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    3.5
    9 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Kitasaku-gun Karuizawamachi Oiwake 1155-8
    A folk museum located in Oiwake, Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku County, Nagano Prefecture. Looking at the history and culture of the Nakasendo Road and the local area of Oiwake from its origins in ancient times to today, the museum's exhibits primarily focus on the period when Oiwake was a flourishing post station town on the Nakasendo Road. Through exhibits such as dioramas recreating what buildings in the area once looked like, visitors can come in contact with the history of Oiwake. The museum also holds special exhibitions and interactive history courses for children.

    堀辰雄文学館に張られていたフランス人浮世絵師ポール・ジャクレーのポスターを観て展示会場の郷土館に出かけた。1階が追分にまつわるもので復元された茶屋と鎧や日用品などが展示されていた。絵の会場は2階でジャクレーは3歳の時来日し1960年64歳の時軽井沢で亡くなったという。木版画21点とスケッチや写真などの展示で版画というジャンルのためかとてもフランス人の作品とは思えない展覧会だった。

  • Takase Museum
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    3.5
    7 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Kiso-gun Kisomachi Fukushima Sekimachi 4788
    "A museum located in Seki-machi Fukushima, Kiso Town, Kiso County, Nagano Prefecture. The museum operates out of the old Takase residence, the home of the family author Toson Shimazaki's older sister married into and a motif in his novel ""The Family."" The museum contains exhibits on Shimazaki as well as displays containing items such as tools used in making medicines, the business of the family that lived here."

    200円払って入ると、高瀬家の娘さんが家や宿場の歴史、藤村の事等を話してくれました。長い一族の歴史が現在まで語り継がれている事に感心、話しも面白くて楽しめました。

  • Forest of MUSE
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    4.5
    5 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Kitasakugunkaruizawamachi Nagakura 182
    This picture book museum displays original drawings and materials associated with picture books. In the First Exhibition Hall, you can view research materials on the culture and history of picture books. A permanent Peter Rabbit exhibition is also housed here. In the Second Exhibition Hall temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year depending on the season. The museum shop sells limited edition products related to the various temporary exhibitions. There are more than 1,800 picture books in the picture book library. The ‘Mori no Ie’ event space can be used for wedding receptions.

    人が3組くらいしかいなくて、静かで、とっても良かったです。 お庭が綺麗でした。 たくさんの絵本、ゆっくりみました。

  • Karuizawa Museum of History and Folklore
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    4.0
    5 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Kitasaku-gun Karuizawamachi Nagakura 2112-101
    A history museum located in Nagakura, Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku County, Nagano Prefecture. The museum's exhibits look at the history of the area, from the distant Jomon period to the time it was a flourishing post station town to Karuizawa becoming a holiday villa destination. The museum also displays the collection of famed Chinese pottery collector Saburo Yoshizawa.

    軽井沢を訪れた際こちらの資料館へ立ち寄りました。遺跡からの出土品や中山道の事、それに日本有数の別荘地として発展した軽井沢の事が詳しく紹介されていました。

  • Okuwa-mura History and Folk Museum
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    3.5
    3 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Kiso-gun Okuwamura Tono 1-58
    A museum located in Tono, Okuwa Village, Kiso County, Nagano Prefecture. The museum displays historical items such as implements used as part of daily life when the area was a flourishing Nakasendo Road post station town. Here visitors can learn about the village's history as a post station town; the village's history of forestry; and the relationship between the town, its hydroelectric power station, and the Kiso River.

    縄文土器から蓄音機まで、様々な骨董品が並んでいます。 昭和時代のスペースが好きです! 子どもと行った時には、メンコやおはじき、オルガンで遊びます。

  • Yatsugatake Natural & Culture Park
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Suwagunharamura 17217-1613
    "This leisure facility themed on ""interacting with the nature of Yatsugatake"" is located on Yatsugatake Chuo Highland. In addition to various facilities such as a planetarium, natural observation museum and sports facilities, they also regularly hold events including star viewings. It is used by many people centering on families."
  • Ueda City Shinano Kokubunji Museum
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    3.0
    2 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Ueda-shi Kokubu 1125
    A museum situated in a corner of Shinano Kokubunji Temple Historic Site Park. The museum was opened in 1980. The museum displays pottery and roof tiles discovered at the former site of the Shinano Kokubunji Temple dating to between the prehistoric period to the Heian period, and here visitors can come in contact with the ancient history of Ueda and Chiisagata County. The museum's collection also includes replicas of ancient Chinese roof tiles and somin shorai tower-shaped talismans gathered from across Japan. The temple is a renowned destination where visitors can experience the atmosphere of Japan's ancient temples. The museum also holds classes for local residents and history activities for elementary and junior high school students each year.

    奈良時代、上田が信州の中心地だったそうで国分寺の資料などがあります。入館料は250円、館内の撮影は禁止なので投稿しませんが、来館者の中には平気で撮影している方がいました。こういう人間を見ると残念ですね。

  • Saku City Mochizuki History Folklore Archives
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    4.0
    1 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Saku-shi Mochizuki 247
    A four-minute walk from the Mochizuki bus stop and a 30-minute drive from the Saku Interchange and the Tobu-Yunomaru Interchange. Built on the site of a troop headquarters in the former Nakasendo Road post station town of Mochizuki-shuku, this museum introduces the history and culture of the Mochizuki area. The museum has three exhibition rooms. Exhibition room 1 covers the prehistoric to the Warring States period, while exhibition room 2 reveals how the area looked when it was a prosperous post station town. Exhibition room 3 has exhibits on modern life in the area. With an advance reservation, visitors can learn how to make a magatama comma-shaped stone jewel.

    中山道の望月宿本陣跡に建てられた資料館です。館内にはいると古代の生活や文化、望月宿の繁栄の様子、それに地域の近代の民族など色々知ることが出来て意義深かったです。

  • Shinano Sanrin Art Museum
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    3.0
    1 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Saku-shi Motai 2206
    The museum is located next to the Osawa Sake Brewery Folk Museum, which was renovated from the Osawa family's brewery where the oldest sake in Japan was discovered. The museum was built to commemorate the 77th birthday of the late Kunio Osawa, a painter from the family who served as a member of the Japan Mountain Forest Art Association. In the warmth of the gentle wood, the museum exhibits works by 74 members of the Japan Forest Art Association, including "Sanctuary," a work that won the Minister of Education's Encouragement Prize.

    入場料が無料なのに釣られて余り期待せずに訪問しましたが、意外と山々の絵が素晴らしかったです。周辺の街並みも素晴らしく隠れた名所とも言えそう。もっと世の中に知られても良い場所なんじゃないかな。

  • Ina City Folk Museum
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    3.0
    1 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Ina-shi Takatomachi Higashitakatoo 2074
    A folk museum located near the Takato Koenshita intersection on National Route 152. The museum is comprised of the Takato Natsukashikan building and the former Mashima and Ikegami family residences. Designed to be an interactive learning space where visitors can look, touch, and do, there are exhibits visitors can interact with. Old tools, machines, and devices such as foot-powered sewing machines are displayed in the Takato Natsukashikan, and here visitors can experience what life in the area was once like. The Mashima family residence was once the home of the local Takato Domain-sponsored eye doctor in the Edo period; the residence was largely left untouched after this time and is one of only a few such architectural examples in the country. The Ikegami family residence was the home of a wealthy Edo period merchant family and, as the oldest building in Takato, conveys the weight of history.

    中央自動車道茅野インターから杖突峠を越えて開田高原を目指す途中で伊那市の高遠町民俗資料館(有料)に立ち寄りました。高遠城跡や高遠の町からは少し離れていますが無料駐車場が隣接するのでドライブ途中の立ち寄りには便利です。

  • Nanushi no Yakata Calligraphy Museum
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Saku-shi Motai 2206
    The Calligraphy Hall is located on the premises of the Osawa Sake Brewery, a long-established sake brewery founded in 1689. The museum exhibits works by Tenrai Hidai, known as the "father of modern calligraphy," and other Tenraimon School artists. On the first floor of the museum, visitors can view the works and sample sake produced at the brewery. The adjacent Osawa Sake Brewery Folklore Museum exhibits a "secret Genroku jar" filled with sake, reputed to be the oldest sake in Japan, and many visitors come to see it as well.

Nagano Areas

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Nagano prefecture is an exciting mix of mountains, hot spring monkeys, and preserved Edo history. At the heart of the Japanese Alps, Nagano is one of the country’s most popular destinations, whether in winter for its snow sports and the much-loved Jigokudani Monkey Park or in the warmer months for discovering the undulating hills on foot. For fantastic Edo architecture, head to the Kiso Valley for a 60-kilometer stretch of quaint wooden buildings that marked the Nakasendo route 200 years ago.

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