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  1. Home
  2. Places
  3. Kanazawa
  4. Ashigaru Shiryokan Museum
A traditional Japanese wooden house with a tiled roof is surrounded by lush greenery and a blooming pink tree. A stone pathway curves in front of the house, and a signpost stands near the entrance.
A traditional Japanese wooden house with a tiled roof is surrounded by lush greenery and a blooming pink tree. A stone pathway curves in front of the house, and a signpost stands near the entrance.
A gravel pathway curves past trimmed hedges, trees, and shrubs in a sunlit Japanese garden, with a traditional wooden building and a modern white building visible in the background.
A traditional wooden Japanese house surrounded by lush greenery, with a tall wooden signpost and an information board written in Japanese near the entrance. Sunlight brightens the scene.
Close-up view of traditional Japanese tatami mats arranged side by side, showing their woven straw texture and dark brown fabric borders.
A traditional Japanese tatami room with sliding shoji doors open to a sunlit garden, tea utensils on the floor, hanging scrolls, and soft natural light filling the space.
Kanazawa

Ashigaru Shiryokan Museum

3.7 (275)Tourist AttractionMuseumPoint Of InterestEstablishment

The Ashigaru Shiryokan Museum in Kanazawa offers a unique glimpse into the lives of the ashigaru, the foot soldiers who served under the samurai during Japan's feudal era. Situated in a restored ashigaru house, the museum provides an authentic look at the modest living conditions and daily routines of these unsung warriors.

Visitors to the museum can explore rooms furnished with period artifacts, showing how the ashigaru lived, worked, and managed their households. The museum also displays tools, weapons, and personal items that give a vivid picture of their societal roles and challenges.

The Ashigaru Shiryokan Museum is more than a historical exhibit; it's an immersive experience that connects visitors with a lesser-known aspect of Japanese history. It's a place where you can step back in time and understand the contrast between the lives of the elite samurai and their loyal foot soldiers. Whether you're a history buff or someone curious about the everyday life of the past, this museum offers a fascinating and enlightening journey into the world of the ashigaru.

Hours:

9:30 AM - 5:00 PM 

Closed:

No closing days

Available:

All year.

Minimum Age:

All ages are welcome

Fees:

No entrance fee


Hours
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Phone
+81 76-233-1561
Website
www.kanazawa-museum.jp


The area

Address
2-chōme-10-17 Katamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0981, Japan

Hours

Sunday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Phone

+81 76-233-1561

Website

www.kanazawa-museum.jp

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What other travelers are saying about Ashigaru Shiryokan Museum

Fantastic museum that details the history of the Maeda Tosanokami-ke family. Visually, mainly documents written by the heads and poems/stories from the time. 2 sets of armor. Great english translations of the explanation/ summary descriptions but the text itself in various documents are not translated. If you would like to read them, google translate is required. Enjoyed the written explanation on how a letter at the time should be written and the accompanying self-guided exercise on how to fold the letter. Completed the circuit of both floors in ~ 1hr. Note I was reading every summary explanation provided in English but did not try to translate many of the documents themselves. I found the summaries to be insightful enough.
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Suzanne Du
Oct 31, 2024
Cool museum to wander around. Its an original samurai house on two levels. The pond is serene, the decorations are intricate, the armour is tiny! Cost 1000Y per person but worth it, even if it only tool less than an hour to wander around.
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Kate Way
Apr 15, 2025
Bluntly, it is boring... nothing that can teach anything about the time, life, culture... just going through the line of heads of family... for to armors... skip it...
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Galit Mass
Aug 25, 2023
A very informative museum, with a beautiful garden about one of the main branch family lines. While a smaller museum, it had great artifacts and good information. Near the samurai district
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Jeremiah W
Mar 1, 2025
It is wrote samurai museum in front but what you see are only letters wrote in japanese with no english translation (or very bad translation). You can see two armors but no katana. Quite deceving.
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Paul ROUX
Apr 12, 2025

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Nearby attractions to see

Two women in traditional Japanese kimonos walk side by side down a stone path, bordered by yellow walls and wooden buildings, with trees and a blue sky in the background.

Nagamachi Samurai District

A traditional Japanese temple gate with arched entrances stands amid snow-covered ground and tall trees, under a partly cloudy sky. The structure has intricate details and a central tower.

Oyama Shrine

A traditional Japanese castle surrounded by blooming cherry blossom trees, with colorful lanterns in the foreground and a soft pastel sky in the background.

Kanazawa Castle

A white sphere stands in front of curved panels in yellow, orange, and pink, creating colorful reflections in an outdoor park with trees, grass, and modern buildings under a blue sky with clouds.

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art


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Frequently Asked Questions

The museum features restored Ashigaru houses, exhibits of weapons, armor, and everyday objects used by these soldiers, providing a comprehensive view of their lives and roles.

Visitors usually spend around 30 to 45 minutes exploring the museum and its exhibits.

Photography rules vary by exhibit, but most areas generally allow non-flash photography.