20 Museums in Yamanashi worth your time

Explore ancient Japanese history from Paleolithic to Sengoku periods, with artifacts from local ruins.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to the archaeology of Hokuto City.
• Opened in April 2007, formerly Yatojo Furusato Rekishikan.
• Exhibits relics spanning Paleolithic to Sengoku periods.

What to see

• Artifacts from Hokuto City ruins are on display.
• Exhibition room 1 covers Paleolithic to Jomon periods.
• Exhibition room 2 covers Yayoi to Heian periods.
• Exhibition room 3 focuses on medieval times.

When to go

• Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.
• Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Getting there

• About a 6-minute walk from the bus stop.

Official site

www.city.hokuto.yamanashi.jp

Read more about Hokuto City Archaeological Museum

Explore Silk Road art and artifacts collected by painter Ikuo Hirayama.

What it is

• A museum in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
• Established in April 2004 by painter Ikuo Hirayama.
• Originated from the Silk Road Research Institute in Kamakura.

What to see

• Paintings by Ikuo Hirayama.
• About 9000 Silk Road artifacts.
• Artifacts include ceramics, textiles, and Buddhist statues.
• A new building established in 2010.

When to go

• Open 10 AM to 5 PM.

Getting there

• Short walk from Kai-Koizumi Station.
• 10-minute taxi ride from Kobuchizawa Station.

Official site

www.silkroad-museum.jp

Read more about Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum

Learn about Mt. Fuji's nature and culture at this comprehensive visitor center.

What it is

• A science exhibition hall dedicated to Mt. Fuji.
• Opened on July 28, 1998.
• Provides tourist support in English, Chinese, and Korean.

What to see

• Information counter and multi-screen displays.
• Climbing corner, nature corner, and culture corner.
• Shop, event space, and training rooms.
• Restaurant and second-floor observation plaza.
• Natural observation garden.

Getting there

• Located in Fujikawaguchiko Town.
• Near the Fuji Subaru Line entrance.
• Near the Kenmarubi lava flow.

Read more about Yamanashi Prefectural Fuji Visitor Center

Museum Tsuru showcases local history and culture, from prehistoric relics to silk trade and famous visitors.

What it is

• Museum built in 1999.
• Introduces history and culture of Tsuru.

What to see

• Permanent exhibition of local artifacts.
• Relics of prehistoric Jomon people.
• Sixteenth-century folk crafts from Yamura.
• Multimedia exhibits with audio, video, dioramas.
• Central display: Tsuru's beautiful yatai festival float.
• Rotating exhibition of Makoto Masuda's paintings.

When to go

• See festival float from annual Hassaku Festival.
• Hassaku Festival held every year on September 1st.

Address

山梨県都留市上谷1-5-1 Map

Official site

www.city.tsuru.yamanashi.jp

Read more about Museum Tsuru

Explore a historic silk merchant's home, now a museum, showcasing local industry and architecture.

What it is

• A local history museum in Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
• Opened in 1993, housed in the Former Nishina Family Residence.
• Originally a wholesaler and residence for silk textiles.
• Designated a tangible cultural property of Tsuru City in 1993.

What to see

• A two-story earthen warehouse with a tiled, hipped roof.
• Japanese-Western eclectic architectural design from 1921.
• Exhibits on Tanimura Town's silk textile industry.
• Displays of household items from the early 20th century.

Official site

www.city.tsuru.yamanashi.jp

Read more about Tsuru City Museum of Mercantile House

Prefectural science museum with a planetarium and observatory, great for families and science enthusiasts.

What it is

• A prefectural science museum.
• Formerly the Yamanashi Prefectural Youth Science Center.
• Moved to Atagoyama Children's Country in 1998.

What to see

• A planetarium and a large astronomical telescope.
• Various exhibition rooms and workshops.
• Space Theater with a 160-person capacity.
• Exhibition room with six fields.
• Observation room with a 6m diameter dome.
• A multi-purpose hall and a restaurant.

When to go

• Closed on the first to third Mondays.

Official site

www.kagakukan.pref.yamanashi.jp

Read more about Yamanashi Science Museum

An art and cultural complex built on a former school site, known for its cherry blossoms.

What it is

• An art and cultural complex facility.
• Includes Kiyoharu Shirakaba Museum and Ando Tadao Museum of Light.
• Concept realized by Chozo Yoshii.
• Opened in April 1980 on a former elementary school site.

What to see

• Kiyoharu Shirakaba Museum, completed in 1983.
• Museum designed by architect Yoshio Taniguchi.
• Cherry trees are a Yamanashi Prefectural Natural Monument.

When to go

• Known for cherry blossoms in spring.
• Open from 10:00 to 17:00.

Official site

www.kiyoharu-art.com

Read more about Kiyoharu Shirakaba Museum

Explore Japanese literature from early modern to contemporary times, featuring notable authors like Akutagawa.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to Japanese literature.
• Opened on November 3, 1989.
• Collects literary materials from early modern to contemporary periods.

What to see

• Two floors above ground and one basement floor.
• Permanent exhibitions on Ryūnosuke Akutagawa.
• Permanent exhibitions on Dakotsu Iida.
• One to two special exhibitions annually.

Getting there

• Accessible by bus from Kofu Station.
• About 15-minute taxi ride from JR Kofu Station.

Address

〒400-0065　山梨県甲府市貢川1-5-35 Map

Official site

www.bungakukan.pref.yamanashi.jp

Read more about Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Literature

Explore the historic home of a prominent industrialist and discover local heritage.

What it is

• A museum in Yamanashi City, opened October 2008.
• Preserves the family home of industrialist Kaichiro Nezu I.
• Nezu family descendants donated the property to Yamanashi City.
• Building is a registered tangible cultural property of Japan.

What to see

• The main house, completed in 1933.
• Nagaya-mon gate, facing the old Ome Kaido road.
• Three-story wooden storehouse.
• Exhibition on Kaichiro Nezu I's life.
• Nezu piano and Koshu Zaibatsu materials.

Official site

www.city.yamanashi.yamanashi.jp

Read more about Nezu Memorial Museum

Explore a historic radar station and learn about weather science at this unique museum.

What it is

• A science museum in Fujiyoshida City.
• Opened on April 24, 2004.
• Exhibits the relocated Mt. Fuji Radar.
• A hands-on learning facility.

What to see

• The historic Mt. Fuji Radar, installed in 1964.
• Interactive exhibits on weather science.

When to go

• Closed on Tuesdays, except during August.

Getting there

• Located within Fuji-san Shinrin Park.
• Free parking available for 70 small cars.

Official site

fujiyoshida.net

Read more about Mount Fuji Radar Dome Museum

Explore the preserved writing house of Seishi Yokomizo, overlooking the Kofu Basin.

What it is

• A municipal museum in Yamanashi City.
• Relocated writing house of author Seishi Yokomizo.
• Built around 1955, used until 1981.
• Opened to the public in March 2007.

What to see

• The preserved study where he wrote.
• A letter from Edogawa Ranpo is displayed.
• Manuscripts and personal items are exhibited.
• Overlooks the Kofu Basin from a mountainside.

When to go

• Open on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Official site

www.city.yamanashi.yamanashi.jp

Read more about Yokomizo Seishi Museum

Explore the life and works of Mishima Yukio through his manuscripts, letters, and personal items.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to Mishima Yukio's literature.
• Opened on July 3, 1999.
• Operated by the Yamanakako Village Board of Education.
• Located in Yamanakako Literary Forest Park.

What to see

• Mishima's first editions, manuscripts, and notes.
• Paintings, letters, and photographs are on display.
• Exhibits materials from his teenage years.
• 99 first edition books are displayed.
• An Apollo statue stands in the courtyard.

Read more about Mishima Yukio Literary Museum

Explore a reconstructed traditional Japanese village with thatched-roof houses and scenic views.

What it is

• An open-air museum in Fujikawaguchiko Town.
• Opened in 2006, rebuilt after a 1966 mudslide.
• Preserves traditional Japanese village architecture.

What to see

• Twenty traditional thatched-roof houses.
• One house is a registered cultural property.
• Views of Lake Saiko and surrounding nature.

When to go

• Open 9:00 to 17:00 from April to November.
• Open 9:30 to 16:30 from December to February.

Official site

www.fujisan.ne.jp

Read more about Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba

Explore a historic pseudo-Western bank building, now a museum, showcasing Meiji-era architecture and industrial heritage.

What it is

• A historical pseudo-Western style building.
• Constructed around 1898 as a post and telegraph office.
• Became the Tanaka Bank headquarters in 1920.
• Open to the public as a museum since 2005.

What to see

• The former Tanaka Bank building, a registered cultural property.
• The brick warehouse, also a registered cultural property.
• Building designed by Terushige Matsuki.
• Part of the Modern Industrial Heritage list.

Official site

www.city.koshu.yamanashi.jp

Read more about Museum Bank of Yamanashi Tanaka

Learn about the doctors who eradicated a parasitic disease in Yamanashi Prefecture.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to Dr. Kenzo Sugiura and his son-in-law Saburo.
• It conveys their achievements in treating and preventing schistosomiasis.
• Opened in 2011 after Showa Town restored the clinic.
• The clinic closed in 1977.

What to see

• Five buildings are registered tangible cultural properties.
• See items donated by the Sugiura family.
• Learn about their efforts to eradicate Oncomelania snails.

Official site

www.sugiura-iin.com

Read more about Dr. Sugiura Memorial Museum

Sone Kyūryō Park is an urban park preserving ancient burial mounds and housing an archaeological museum.

What it is

• A prefectural urban park in Kofu City.
• Also known as Kai Fudoki no Oka.
• Built around the Choshizuka Kofun.
• Opened in 1982 with the archaeological museum.

What to see

• Yamanashi Prefectural Archaeological Museum.
• Kai Choshizuka Kofun, an ancient burial mound.
• Maruyamazuka Kofun, another ancient burial mound.
• Exhibits from Paleolithic to Kofun periods.
• Observation plaza and open spaces.

Official site

www.sonekyuryo.jp

Read more about Sone Kyūryō Park

Explore Yamanashi's history and nature from prehistoric times to the present.

What it is

• A general museum dedicated to Yamanashi's nature and people.
• Opened on October 15, 2005.
• Collects and researches natural and historical materials.
• Holds approximately 190,000 items.

What to see

• Permanent exhibition from prehistoric times to present.
• Single-story reinforced concrete building.

When to go

• Closed on Tuesdays.
• Closed from December 29 to January 1.

Address

山梨県笛吹市御坂町成田1501-1 Map

Official site

www.museum.pref.yamanashi.jp

Read more about Yamanashi Prefectural Museum

See works by Tsuda Seifu, a Japanese painter from Meiji to Showa periods.

What it is

• Municipal art museum in Fuefuki City.
• Specializes in works by painter Tsuda Seifu.
• Founded in October 1974 by Yoriaki Koike.
• Oldest continuously operating museum in Yamanashi Prefecture.

What to see

• About 700 works by Seifu Tsuda.
• First floor displays "Shippu Doto" (1932) permanently.

When to go

• Exhibitions held twice a year, in spring and autumn.

Read more about Fuefuki-shi Seifu Art Museum

Explore Japan's gold mining history and pan for gold at this unique museum.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to the Yu-no-oku Gold Mine.
• Opened on April 24, 1997.
• Registered under the Museum Law in 1998.

What to see

• Diorama of gold miners' daily work.
• Excavated items, including Koshu gold.
• Free footbath in front of the museum.

Getting there

• Near Shimobe-onsen Station on the JR Minobu Line.
• Cross Fureai Bridge to reach the museum.

Read more about the Yu-no-oku Museum of Gold Mining History

Learn about Mount Fuji's World Heritage status and see a large-scale replica.

What it is

• Opened June 22, 2016.
• Established based on World Heritage Convention articles.
• Houses a Japan National Tourism Organization tourist information center.

What to see

• Building exterior resembles Japanese wooden architecture.
• Exhibition room has a World Heritage guidance corner.
• Major exhibit is a 15-meter diameter Fujisan object.
• Second floor is the 'Ochudo Corridor'.

Official site

www.fujisan-whc.jp

Read more about Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center