20 Museums in Nagano worth your time

A private museum in Matsumoto housing one of the world's largest collections of traditional Japanese woodblock prints and paintings.

What it is

• A private museum opened in 1982 to house the extensive Sakai family collection.
• The facility preserves approximately 100,000 pieces of ukiyo-e art collected over five generations.
• The collection includes about 1,000 rare original hand-painted ukiyo-e works.
• The museum building was designed by the architect Kazuo Shinohara.

What to see

• Rotating exhibitions featuring selections from the vast woodblock print archive.
• Original hand-painted ukiyo-e works that are unique to this specific collection.
• The modern architectural design of the museum building itself.
• The adjacent Matsumoto City Rekishi-no-Sato historical site.

Getting there

• A 15-minute walk from Oniwa Station leads directly to the museum.
• A bus from Matsumoto Station reaches the museum in approximately 20 minutes.
• The site is a 5-minute drive from the Matsumoto Interchange.

Official site

www.japan-ukiyoe-museum.com

Read more about Japan Ukiyo-e Museum

A colonial-style residence turned memorial museum featuring art, fossils, and a life-sized dinosaur statue on the shore of Lake Rokaku.

What it is

• A memorial museum and branch of the Nagano City Museum opened in October 1982.
• The building was originally the 1890 colonial-style residence of Italian merchant Vivanti.
• The structure served as the home of Ikuma Arishima after he purchased it in 1921.
• The site currently houses both an art museum and a fossil museum.

What to see

• The historic colonial-style house situated on the shore of Lake Rokaku.
• A life-sized Diplodocus statue standing in front of the fossil museum.
• Exhibits dedicated to the life and work of Ikuma Arishima.

When to go

• Open Tuesday through Sunday with general admission for adults set at 500 yen.
• Avoid visiting on Mondays or the days following national holidays when the facility is closed.

Getting there

• The museum is accessible by taking a bus from JR Nagano Station.

Official site

www.ngn.janis.or.jp

Read more about Arishima Ikuma Memorial Museum

A museum honoring the 1686 farmers' uprising through unique architecture, paper-cut art films, and human rights monuments.

What it is

• Commemorates the 1686 Jokyo Uprising led by farmers in the Matsumoto Domain
• Established by Azumino City in 1992 to honor Tada Kasuke and his followers
• Focuses on the history of local agricultural protest and human rights

What to see

• V-shaped building featuring exterior tiles representing ten thousand farmers from the uprising
• Interior hall ceiling designed in the shape of a traditional straw hat
• Theater showing a seventeen-minute film about the uprising using paper-cut art
• Outdoor inscriptions of the Japanese Constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Replica wooden statue of the uprising leader Tada Kasuke
• Outdoor well that pumps fresh water from one hundred and thirty meters underground

Getting there

• Ten-minute walk from Nakagaya Station
• Fifteen-minute drive from the Azumino Interchange

Official site

www.anc-tv.ne.jp

Read more about Jōkyō Gimin Memorial Museum

A museum in Komoro City dedicated to Western-style painter Keizo Koyama, featuring his art and a unique building.

What it is

• A personal museum in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Dedicated to Western-style painter Keizo Koyama.
• Opened in 1975 after Koyama donated his works.
• The building was designed by architect Togo Murano.

What to see

• The building features many curves in its design.
• Koyama's former residence and studio are open.
• View "Red Bridge" painted in 1921.
• See "Blues de Bulgarie" from 1948.
• Observe "Mount Asama Fresh Snow" from 1968.

When to go

• The museum celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Shinano Railway Komoro Station.

Official site

www.city.komoro.lg.jp

Read more about Koyama Keizo Museum of Art

Explore historic buildings from Edo to Taisho periods in this open-air architectural museum.

What it is

• An open-air architectural museum.
• A branch of Matsumoto City Museum.
• Opened in 1982 as a judicial museum.
• Features buildings from late Edo to late Taisho periods.

What to see

• Five cultural properties are on display.
• Old Matsumoto District Court building is a National Important Cultural Property.
• Old Matsumoto Juvenile Prison solitary cells were built in 1926.
• Kinoshita Naoe birthplace is a samurai residence.
• Kojo Yado Horaiya was a traveler's inn.
• Old Showa Kogyo Silk Reeling Factory was built in the Taisho period.

Getting there

• Adjacent to the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum.

Official site

matsu-haku.com

Read more about Matsumoto City Open-Air Architectural Museum

A municipal art museum in Nagano featuring over 2,300 donated works and an adjacent fossil museum and memorial hall.

What it is

• A branch of the Nagano City Museum that opened its current building in 1982
• A facility housing approximately 2,300 items donated by artists and volunteers
• A cultural site located along National Route 19 in the Shinshu-shinmachi area

What to see

• Watercolor paintings by the artist Yasunobu Akagi
• The Shinshu-shinmachi Fossil Museum located on the same site
• The Arishima Ikuma Memorial Hall situated adjacent to the museum

Getting there

• Take a bus from JR Nagano Station directly to the museum
• The bus journey from Nagano Station takes approximately 40 minutes

Official site

www.ngn.janis.or.jp

Read more about Shinshū-shinmachi Art Museum

See hundreds of puppets from famous TV shows at this unique museum dedicated to Kihachiro Kawamoto.

What it is

• A museum about Kihachiro Kawamoto in Iida City.
• Preserves and exhibits materials related to puppet theater.
• Opened on March 25, 2007.
• Kihachiro Kawamoto donated puppets to Iida City.

What to see

• Puppets from 'Puppet Show Romance of the Three Kingdoms'.
• Puppets from 'Puppet Historical Spectacle Heike Monogatari'.
• Puppets from various puppet animation works.
• Approximately 200 puppets are on display.
• The building is a three-story concrete structure.

When to go

• Open from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
• Closed on Wednesdays.
• Closed during the New Year holidays.

Official site

kawamoto-iida.com

Read more about Iida City Kawamoto Kihachiro Puppet Museum

Explore Kobayashi Issa's life and works at this museum, home to Japan's largest collection of his manuscripts.

What it is

• A municipal museum in Takayama Village, Nagano Prefecture.
• Dedicated to the haiku poet Kobayashi Issa.
• Built in 1996 to honor Issa's frequent visits to the area.
• Official name: Historical Park Shinshu Takayama Issa Yukari no Sato.

What to see

• About 50 of Issa's original manuscripts, the most in Japan.
• Exhibits of Issa's relics and related materials.
• Building with a characteristic sloping copper-plated roof.
• A detached house, a village-designated cultural property.

When to go

• Open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
• Closed on Mondays and the day after holidays.

Official site

www.kobayashi-issa.jp

Read more about Kobayashi Issa Museum Issakan

Explore Togakushi's natural history and local heritage, housed in a unique former school building.

What it is

• A museum displaying geology, fossils, and local history materials.
• Originally the Togakushi Village Local History Museum.
• Became a branch of the Nagano City Museum in 2005.
• Houses approximately 100,000 items.

What to see

• The museum is in a former Saku Elementary School building.
• The main building is a three-story concrete structure from 1983.
• An old wooden school building from 1948 is also on site.
• A Shiba Inu has served as the director since 2018.

When to go

• Open from 9:00 to 16:30.
• Closed on Mondays.
• Closed during the New Year holidays.

Official site

www.tgk.janis.or.jp

Read more about Togakushi Museum of Natural History

Explore a literature museum in Ueda dedicated to Shotaro Ikenami's historical novel, Sanada Taiheiki.

What it is

• A literature museum in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Opened on November 23, 1998.
• Dedicated to Shotaro Ikenami's historical novel Sanada Taiheiki.
• Operated by Ueda City.

What to see

• Diorama of Sanada Taiheiki's behind-the-scenes.
• Corner for author Shotaro Ikenami.
• Theater building shows original videos.
• Gallery building exhibits original illustrations by Kan Kazama.
• Karakuri-e attractions of 'Kusa no Mono'.
• Materials related to local authors Masao Kume and Jun Nitta.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Hokuriku Shinkansen Ueda Station.

Address

〒386-0012　長野県上田市中央3-7-3 Map

Official site

www.city.ueda.nagano.jp

Read more about Ikenami Shōtarō Sanada Taiheiki Museum

A museum in Karuizawa showcasing art and architecture linked to Bunka Gakuin's legacy.

What it is

• A museum of contemporary art, opened in 1997.
• Operated by the Karuizawa Art and Culture Academy.
• Dedicated to Isaku Nishimura and Bunka Gakuin cultural figures.

What to see

• An English-style cottage and garden.
• Building replicates the original Bunka Gakuin school.
• Paintings, ceramics, and architectural models by Isaku Nishimura.
• Works by cultural figures associated with Bunka Gakuin.
• Works by artists who graduated from Bunka Gakuin.

When to go

• Open 10:00 to 17:00.
• Closed on Wednesdays.
• Closed from early November to spring.

Official site

www.levent.or.jp

Read more about Le Vent Museum of Contemporary Art

Modern art museum near Takato Castle Park, featuring local artists and special exhibitions.

What it is

• Opened in 1992 as a municipal museum.
• Dedicated to art, located in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Building designed by Miyamoto Tadao Architect and Associates.

What to see

• Two exhibition rooms in a two-story building.
• Harada Collection displayed in one room.
• Works by artists associated with Takato in the second room.
• Lobby and a cafe are available.
• Building received two architecture awards in 1998.

When to go

• 3-4 special exhibitions are held annually.

Getting there

• Located south of Takato Castle Park.

Official site

www.city.ina.nagano.jp

Read more about Takato Museum of Arts

Explore Nagano's history, nature, and cosmos in an award-winning building.

What it is

• A registered museum under the Museum Act.
• Opened on September 23, 1981.
• Located within Hachimanbara Historic Park.

What to see

• Exhibits on astronomy, geology, history, and folklore.
• Building designed by Miyamoto Tadanaga.
• Building won an architectural award in 1981.
• Building selected as one of 100 Public Buildings.

When to go

• Closed on Mondays and during the New Year period.

Getting there

• 3-minute walk from Kawanakajima Kosenjo bus stop.
• 5-minute drive from Nagano IC on Joshin-etsu Expressway.

Address

長野県長野市小島田町1414　八幡原史跡公園内 Map

Official site

www.city.nagano.nagano.jp

Read more about Nagano City Museum

A modern museum overlooking Lake Suwa, housing national treasures and diverse art collections.

What it is

• A private art museum opened in 1995.
• Exhibits collections from Hattori Shoji, Hattori Ichiro, and Sanritsu Kogyo.

What to see

• National Treasure: 'Raku ware white katami-gawari tea bowl, inscribed Fujisan'.
• National Treasure: 'Ink painting of Hanshan by Kaō'.
• Several Important Cultural Properties.
• Western paintings collected by Hattori Ichiro.
• Ceramics from the former Shiobara collection.
• Building designed by Uchii Shozo, overlooking Lake Suwa.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from JR East Kamisuwa Station West Exit.

Official site

www.sunritz-hattori-museum.or.jp

Read more about Sunritz Hattori Museum of Arts

See rare whale fossils and global specimens at this Matsumoto City museum.

What it is

• A municipal museum in Shiga, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture.
• It is a branch of Matsumoto City Museum.
• Opened in 1989.
• Dedicated to fossils from the local Neogene period.

What to see

• A 7-meter-long sperm whale fossil.
• An 8.4-meter-long minke whale skeleton.
• Fossils and animal specimens from around the world.
• Sperm whale superfamily skeleton excavated in 1988.

Getting there

• 20 minutes by car from Azumino Interchange.
• 35 minutes by bus from Matsumoto Bus Terminal.
• 20 minutes by Matsumoto City Bus from Okido.

Official site

matsu-haku.com

Read more about Shiga Fossil Museum

Explore local history, nature, and literature at this Chino City museum with a planetarium.

What it is

• A museum in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Opened in 1988.
• Exhibits history, industry, and folklore of the Yamamura region.
• Includes the Yatsugatake Foothills Literary Museum.

What to see

• First floor has the Yatsugatake Foothills Literary Museum.
• First floor has an event space.
• First floor has a planetarium.
• Second floor displays nature-related exhibits.
• Second floor displays history-related exhibits.

When to go

• Closed on Mondays.

Getting there

• 10-minute taxi ride from Chino Station.

Address

長野県茅野市豊平6983番地 Map

Official site

www.city.chino.lg.jp

Read more about Yatsugatake Museum

Explore ancient Jomon culture and see National Treasure dogu at this archaeological museum.

What it is

• Archaeological museum in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Opened on November 3, 1955.
• Reopened as Togariishi Jomon Archaeological Museum on July 20, 2000.

What to see

• About 3000 archaeological items.
• National Treasure dogu called Jomon no Venus.
• National Treasure dogu called Masked Goddess.
• 47 Jomon pottery pieces, Prefectural Treasures.
• Pit-dwelling called Koka-an, built in 2024.

When to go

• Closed on Mondays.
• Closed the day after holidays.

Getting there

• 20-minute drive from Suwa IC.

Address

長野県茅野市豊平4734-132 Map

Official site

www.city.chino.lg.jp

Read more about Togariishi Museum of Jōmon Archaeology

A unique literary museum in Shinano Town, dedicated to fairy tales and Michael Ende.

What it is

• A literary museum in Shinano Town.
• Opened in 1991.
• Dedicated to fairy tales from around the world.
• Features a permanent Michael Ende exhibition.

What to see

• Over 2000 items from Michael Ende.
• Ende's manuscripts and illustrations.
• Representative fairy tales from various countries.
• Iwasaki Chihiro's atelier, moved outdoors.
• Special exhibition for Miyoko Matsutani.
• Event hall for lectures and storytelling.

When to go

• Open from April 5 to November 30.
• Closed for winter from December 1 to April 4.

Official site

douwakan.com

Read more about Kurohime Fairy Tales Museum

Mugonkan is a unique art museum in Ueda City, commemorating student artists lost in WWII.

What it is

• Art museum in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture.
• Established in 1997.
• Commemorates art students who died in World War II.
• Branch of the Shinano Dessan-kan museum.

What to see

• Main building, a reinforced concrete structure.
• Second exhibition hall, opened in 2008.
• Second hall named "Dome of Wounded Canvases, Olive Reading Room."

When to go

• Closed on Tuesdays.

Getting there

• 30-minute walk from Shiodamachi Station.
• Shiodamachi Station is on the Ueda Electric Railway Bessho Line.

Address

山王山3462 Map

Official site

mugonkan.jp

Read more about Mugonkan

This museum celebrates children's picture books, especially Takeo Takei's art, offering a unique cultural experience.

What it is

• Japan Children's Picture Book Museum, also known as ILF Douga Museum of Art.
• Opened in 1998, 'ILF' is 'furu-i' (old) spelled backward.
• Dedicated to collecting and exhibiting children's picture books.
• Focuses on works by artist Takeo Takei.

What to see

• Three exhibition rooms on different floors.
• Takeo Takei's children's paintings, prints, and publications.
• A picture book library called 'Harappa'.
• A museum shop and a cafe named 'Ramram'.

When to go

• May 8th is 'Children's Picture Day' in Okaya City.

Official site

www.ilf.jp

Read more about ILF Douga Museum of Art