20 Museums in Mie worth your time

See a free collection of Japanese swords and armor in Kuwana City.

What it is

• A museum exhibiting Japanese artworks, primarily swords.
• Opened in 2016 as Touken Collection Kuwana Tado.
• Renamed Touken World Kuwana Tado in 2022.
• Admission to the facility is free.

What to see

• Japanese swords, armor, spears, naginata, and firearms.
• Important cultural property: Mumei Yoshioka Ichimonji sword.
• Important art object: Tachi Mei Kageyori.
• Special important sword: Mumei伝Masamune sword.
• Important sword: Nagasone Okisato Nyudo Kotetsu sword.

Getting there

• Located in the Hotel Tado Onsen Residence New Building.
• Accessible by car from Tomeihan Expressway ICs.

Official site

www.touken-collection-kuwana.jp

Read more about Touken World Kuwana Tado

Explore a ninja house with secret mechanisms and learn about ninja history and tools.

What it is

• A museum about ninjas in Iga City, Mie Prefecture.
• Established in 1964 by Heishichiro Okuse.
• Renamed Iga-ryu Ninja Museum in 1998.
• Certified as a registered museum in 2008.

What to see

• Iga-ryu Ninja House with various ninja house mechanisms.
• Ninjutsu Experience Hall displays ninja tools and materials.
• Ninja Tradition Hall displays ninja tools and materials.
• Ninja goods are sold.
• Ninjutsu demonstrations are offered.
• Shuriken throwing experiences are offered.

Getting there

• Located in Ueno Park, Iga Ueno Castle.

Official site

www.iganinja.jp

Read more about Ninja Museum of Igaryu

Explore historic Edo and Meiji period merchant buildings and learn about Ise's commercial past.

What it is

• A cultural exchange base in Ise City's Kawasaki district.
• Restored historic Ogawa Sake Brewery buildings.
• Opened in 2002, managed by a local NPO.
• Buildings constructed during Edo and Meiji periods.

What to see

• Seven storehouses and two townhouses.
• Twelve buildings registered as national tangible cultural properties.
• Exhibits of commerce tools and records.
• Replica of Kyoto's Urasenke Tototsusai tea room.
• Yamada Hagaki, Japan's oldest paper money.

When to go

• Open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Official site

www.isekawasaki.jp

Read more about Ise Kawasaki Shōninkan

See Louvre masterpieces replicated by experts in the world's only Louvre sister museum.

What it is

• The world's only sister museum of the Louvre Museum.
• Opened in 1987 with official Louvre Museum permission.
• Located on the grounds of Hojusan Daikannonji Temple.
• The building was designed by Kisho Kurokawa.

What to see

• Replicas of Louvre Museum masterpieces made by their staff.
• Works like Winged Victory of Samothrace.
• Works like Venus de Milo.
• Works like Tutankhamun's mask.
• Photography of exhibits is permitted.

Getting there

• A 5-minute walk from Sakakibara-onsen-guchi Station.

Address

三重県津市白山町佐田1957 Map

Official site

www.louvre-m.com

Read more about Japon Louvre Sculpture Museum

This unique hall, once the 1970 World Expo Australia Pavilion, showcased Australian culture and architecture.

What it is

• A tourism and event facility in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture.
• The Australia Pavilion from the 1970 Japan World Exposition.
• Symbolized sister port affiliation between Sydney and Yokkaichi.
• Operated by a foundation funded by local government entities.

What to see

• Displayed Australian materials and a large platypus model.
• Circular hall used as a multi-purpose rental hall.
• Design featured a cantilevered roof supported by wire nets.
• Building design inspired by Hokusai's 'The Great Wave'.

Read more about Australian Memorial Hall

Kuwana City Museum showcases local history and unique paper crane art, offering a cultural experience.

What it is

• A municipal museum in Mie Prefecture.
• Opened in 1971 as a cultural art museum.
• Reorganized in 1985 as the first municipal museum.
• Exhibits local history and folklore.

What to see

• Displays folded Kuwana Senbazuru.
• Experience folding renzuru for a fee.

When to go

• Open 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Last admission is at 4:30 PM.
• Closed on Mondays.

Getting there

• 20-minute walk from Kuwana Station.
• Accessible by Mie Kotsu Bus from Kuwana Station.

Read more about Kuwana City Museum

Chōkaidō Museum showcases a private collection of Chinese art and Japanese scholar items.

What it is

• A museum specializing in Chinese calligraphy and painting.
• Opened in 1994, housing the Chōkaidō Bunko collection.
• Collection started by Teijiro Yamamoto in the Meiji period.

What to see

• Works from China's Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
• Art collected by Teijiro Yamamoto and Nobuyuki Inokuma.
• Works by Japanese Confucian scholars.
• A collection of old inkstones.

When to go

• Special exhibitions are held in spring.
• Special exhibitions are held in autumn.

Address

三重県四日市市鵜の森1丁目1-19 Map

Official site

www.chokaido.jp

Read more about Chōkaidō Museum

Explore the history of the Ishidori Festival in a beautiful historic bank building.

What it is

• A facility introducing the Ishidori Festival.
• Opened in 1992 as an exhibition facility.
• Originally the Yokkaichi Bank Kuwana Branch, completed in 1925.
• Registered Tangible Cultural Property since 2011.

What to see

• The historic bank building itself.
• Exhibits of festival floats from the late Edo period.

When to go

• Open 10 AM to 4 PM.
• Closed Mondays, Thursdays, and New Year holidays.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Kuwana Station.

Official site

www.city.kuwana.lg.jp

Read more about Kuwana City Ishidori Hall

Mie Prefectural Art Museum: a significant modern art collection and notable architecture.

What it is

• First full-scale art museum in the Chubu-Tokai region.
• Opened in 1982, renovated and reopened in 2003.
• Houses over 6,000 works of art.

What to see

• Collection of modern Japanese Western-style paintings.
• Yoshitatsu Yanagihara Memorial Museum opened in 2003.
• Building designed by Tomiie Architects.
• Awarded the Chubu Architecture Award in 1982.
• Selected as one of the 100 Best Public Buildings in 1998.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Tsu Station.

Address

三重県津市大谷町11番地 Map

Official site

www.bunka.pref.mie.lg.jp

Read more about Mie Prefectural Art Museum

Explore Matsusaka's rich history and folklore in a beautiful historic building.

What it is

• A local history museum in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture.
• Opened November 1, 1978.
• Exhibits Matsusaka's history and folklore.
• Building constructed in 1912 as Iinan County Library.

What to see

• Materials on Matsusaka merchants, Ise white powder, and Matsusaka cotton.
• Four permanent exhibition corners and one special exhibition corner.
• Two-story wooden building with a Japanese-style design.
• Main building and warehouse are registered tangible cultural properties.

Address

三重県松阪市殿町1539 Map

Official site

www.city.matsusaka.mie.jp

Read more about Matsusaka City Museum of History and Folklore

Kisosaki Town Cultural Museum: free local history, folklore, and typhoon exhibits, open Sundays.

What it is

• A museum facility in Kisosaki Town.
• Opened in June 1990.
• Dedicated to local culture and history.

What to see

• A panoramic model of the town.
• Exhibits of folklore materials.
• Materials about the 1959 Isewan Typhoon.

When to go

• Open on Sundays from 9:00 to 16:00.
• Closed during year-end and New Year holidays.

Getting there

• Take Kisosaki Town bus from Kintetsu Yatomi Station.
• 80 parking spaces are available.

Read more about Kisosaki Town Museum of Cultural Resources

Learn about Yokkaichi's environmental history and future, with free admission.

What it is

• A museum in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture.
• Opened on March 21, 2015.
• Part of the Soranpo Yokkaichi complex.
• Focuses on pollution and environmental future.

What to see

• Exhibition area on the 2nd floor.
• Learning area on the 1st floor.
• Activity area on the 2nd floor of Jibasan Mie.
• Library corner with 10,000 books.

Getting there

• 400m west of Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station.
• About a 5-minute walk from the station.

Read more about Yokkaichi Pollution and Environmental Museum for Future Awareness

Explore Yokkaichi's history and a high-tech planetarium, all in one convenient location.

What it is

• Public museum in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture.
• Exhibits the history of Yokkaichi City.
• Part of the 5-story "Soranpo Yokkaichi" building.
• Museum and planetarium occupy floors 3 to 5.

What to see

• Permanent exhibition room on the 3rd floor.
• Exhibits cover Yayoi to Edo periods.
• Five special exhibitions held annually.
• Planetarium on the 5th floor.
• Planetarium projects 140 million stars.
• Planetarium dome is 18.5m in diameter.

Address

三重県四日市市安島1-3-16 Map

Official site

www.city.yokkaichi.mie.jp

Read more about Yokkaichi Municipal Museum

This museum honors Ryohei Murayama, founder of the Asahi Shimbun, and local history.

What it is

• A cultural facility honoring Ryohei Murayama.
• Murayama was a founder of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
• Opened in 1983.
• Houses the Tamaki-cho Local History Museum and Library.

What to see

• A two-story reinforced concrete building.
• Tamaki-cho Local History Museum on the second floor.
• Tamaki-cho Library on the first floor.
• Statue of Ryohei Murayama by Asakura Fumio at the entrance.
• Located in front of Tamaru Castle Otemon remains.

Address

〒519-0415 三重県度会郡玉城町田丸114番地1 Map

Official site

www.town.tamaki.mie.jp

Read more about Ryohei Murayama Memorial Museum

Commemorating the 2016 G7 Summit, this free museum displays summit artifacts.

What it is

• A museum commemorating the 42nd G7 Summit.
• Opened on May 26, 2017.
• Its nickname is Samiel.

What to see

• The round table used at the summit.
• A shovel used by Barack Obama for tree planting.
• A souvenir shop and a cafe.

When to go

• Open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
• Open all year round.

Getting there

• Located on the second floor of Kintetsu Shima Line Kashikojima Station.

Official site

www.city.shima.mie.jp

Read more about Ise-Shima Summit Memorial Museum

Nishiki Tower is a unique disaster prevention structure, a testament to tsunami preparedness.

What it is

• A disaster prevention tower in Nishiki, Taiki Town.
• Built as a lesson from the 1944 Tonankai Earthquake tsunami.
• Completed in July 1998.
• A second Nishiki Tower was constructed later.

What to see

• A 5-story reinforced concrete structure.
• The tower is 21.8 meters tall.
• It has a cylindrical shape.
• Stairs are installed on the outer circumference.
• The second floor has a meeting place for evacuation.

Official site

www.town.taiki.mie.jp

Read more about Nishiki Tower

Learn about swordsman Aisu Hisatada and kendo at this museum in Mie Prefecture.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to swordsman Aisu Hisatada.
• Opened on April 1, 1995.
• Located near the Gakasho Castle ruins.

What to see

• Exhibits about Aisu Hisatada.
• A kendo dojo is attached to the facility.
• Nearby Gakasho Castle ruins, a historic site.

When to go

• Open 9:00 to 16:00.
• Closed on Tuesdays and New Year holidays.
• Admission fees apply for adults and high school students.

Address

三重県度会郡南伊勢町五ヶ所浦2366 Map

Official site

www.town.minamiise.lg.jp

Read more about Aisu no Yakata

Explore Shima's past through artifacts and cultural properties at this local history museum.

What it is

• A local history museum in Shima City, Mie Prefecture.
• Opened in 2005, sharing a building with other facilities.

What to see

• Five exhibition corners: archaeology, folklore, daily life, livelihood.
• 3,828 items registered as tangible folk cultural properties.
• Includes agricultural and fishing tools.
• Two Mie Prefecture designated cultural properties.
• Seven Shima City designated cultural properties.

Read more about Shima City Museum of History and Folklore

Learn about energy and Earth's history at this power plant exhibition facility.

What it is

• An exhibition facility for Kawagoe Thermal Power Station.
• Operated by JERA, it opened in July 1996.
• Name represents Earth's 4.6 billion year history.

What to see

• Kawagoe Observation Salon on the 7th floor.
• Power plant introduction panels on the 6th floor.
• Playland and hyper theater on the 5th floor.

When to go

• Open from 9:00 to 16:40.
• Closed on Mondays.

Read more about Kawagoe Electric Power Museum Terra 46

World's first Makonde sculpture museum, offering a unique, interactive cultural experience.

What it is

• World's first museum specializing in Makonde sculpture.
• Founded to exhibit works of the Makonde people.
• Houses approximately 2,000 works collected over 20 years.

What to see

• Makonde sculptures.
• Tingatinga paintings.
• Ethnic musical instruments and tools.
• Two-story steel-frame building with a basement.

When to go

• Open 9 AM to 5 PM.
• Closed on Tuesdays.

Address

三重県伊勢市二見町字松下1799 Map

Official site

www.museum.makonde.jp

Read more about Makonde Art Museum