What other travelers are saying about Higashikagawa City Museum of History and Folklore
Visited on Tuesday, September 9, 2025
This museum is perfect for learning about the origins of Karuizawa!
Karuizawa is now a luxury villa area, but it was originally a post town on the Nakasendo Road. Oiwake, Kutsukake, and Karuizawa were known as the Asama Sanshuku (Three Inns of Asama), and travelers who crossed the Usui Pass stayed there.
Although it fell into disuse as a post town in the Meiji era, it was developed as a villa area after foreigner A.C. Shaw built a villa there.
The diorama clearly shows the Nakasendo Road passing through the foot of Mount Asama. Located at an altitude of 1,000 meters, it's a cool, pleasant summer retreat, but with recent global warming, it still felt hot even at this time of year.
I went there on a weekday.
You can learn about the history of Karuizawa. The Western-style building is small, but the admission fee was included. You can also enjoy forest bathing on the premises, so it's a good place to relax.
Learn about Karuizawa's past and present, and its origins as a summer resort.
Photography is prohibited inside the building, so I took photos of the beautiful surrounding nature.
Oiwake-juku's history, decline, and its impact as a summer resort, as well as the vibrant Paul Jacoulet.
The Old Karuizawa, New Karuizawa, and Hoshino areas are all great, but I also recommend this one.
The only drawback is that it's not barrier-free due to the building and land conditions. (^_^;)
The former Konoe Fumimaro Villa is also lovely. Try looking for a faux-Western-style spot. (^-^)
If you have time, why not reminisce about the past? (^-^)
I visited on April 3rd. It seems to have reopened in April. I started from the former Konoe Fumimaro Villa, so I left my car in the Riyama Park parking lot and walked along the waterway from the villa, past the back of the Amemiya Memorial Museum. There was no need to turn the car around every time. The exhibits included information on Karuizawa folklore, the Shinetsu Line between Yokokawa and Karuizawa, and architecture in Karuizawa.
I visited here after seeing the former Konoe Fumimaro Villa.
I learned a lot about old roads.
In the old days, people walked along the mountain ridges.
Nowadays, you can enter Karuizawa through a Shinkansen tunnel.
Its history as a villa area began in the Meiji era.
To learn about the area, I thought it was best to visit the local history and ethnic museum.
The Karuizawa Town History and Ethnology Museum was established in 1963 when the town purchased the villa of former Minister of Finance Katsuta Kazue. It began as the Karuizawa Town Museum, which stores and exhibits artifacts excavated from ruins in the town and various ethnic materials.
The current location was built in 1980, and the name was changed to Karuizawa Town History and Ethnology Museum in 2000.
The museum showcases the cultural heritage of eastern Kagawa Prefecture through permanent exhibitions featuring archaeological artifacts, traditional household items, historical documents, and tools from local industries. You'll find displays about the area's evolution from a feudal castle town to a modern city, with special focus on how its location between the Sanuki Mountains and Seto Inland Sea shaped local culture and trade. The museum also hosts rotating special exhibitions highlighting different aspects of regional heritage.
The museum is accessible via JR Shikoku railway lines, with the nearest stations being Sanuki-Shirotori Station and Hiketa Station. From either station, the museum is within walking distance or reachable by local bus services. If you're driving, parking facilities are available on-site. The museum's location in Higashikagawa City makes it easily accessible from other parts of Kagawa Prefecture.
Yes, guided tours are available to help visitors better understand the exhibits and local history. These tours provide deeper insights into the artifacts and their significance to the region's development. The museum staff can provide information about tour schedules and availability. It's recommended to inquire about guided tours when planning your visit, especially for group visits.
Absolutely. The museum offers educational programs designed for different age groups and serves as a research center for those studying regional history. Interactive displays help visitors understand how geography influenced local culture, making it an excellent resource for students and researchers. The museum's comprehensive collection of historical materials provides valuable learning opportunities about Shikoku's eastern heritage.
The museum charges admission fees, with discounted rates typically offered for students, seniors, and group visits. Specific pricing information may vary, so it's best to check current rates before your visit. The museum staff can provide details about group discounts and any special pricing for educational visits or local residents.
