I was surprised to find the museum open on January 4th, with guided tours available. Although the explanations were difficult for foreigners to understand, it was still a great experience overall!
You can also visit the Meiji Emperor's Imperial Residence in Oi.
This museum is located in a corner of Ōi-juku, the 46th post town on the Nakasendō road, and is housed in the former residence of a village headman that also served as a merchant's house.
The building itself was apparently moved to its current location shortly after the Meiji Restoration, originally an Edo-period building.
The exhibits inside the building are items donated by people from various regions, and they match the atmosphere of the house very well (っ’ヮ’c)
There is also a storehouse on the property, and one of them displays old documents related to the Furuyama family, the original owners of the house.
Parking is available at the nearby Ōi Imperial Residence of Emperor Meiji, and it's a short walk towards the gate of the Ōi-juku Honjin (main inn). The Ōi Imperial Residence is also a wonderful example of late Edo to Meiji-era architecture, so it's recommended to visit there before going here! ('▽')
Admission is 200 yen, or 150 yen with a JAF discount, but it's well worth it as you get to experience the atmosphere of the late Edo period 😉
A wonderful staff member explained everything to me in detail. Apparently, the frame of the shoji screen is made up of the auspicious odd number 753. It was a fantastic experience for only 200 yen.
The way the everyday items and tools of the time were displayed was excellent, and the well in the garden storehouse also gave a sense of history.
I stopped by while walking along the Nakasendo road. I was lucky that admission was free on the day I visited. There were many interesting exhibits in the spacious dirt floor, which I found fascinating. The staff were very helpful in explaining things to me, and I think this is a must-visit facility if you're visiting Oijuku.
