Kusakabe Folk Museum
Kusakabe Folk Museum
4
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Takayama’s old town district still boasts some of these merchant houses dating from the prosperous Edo period, when Tokyo was under Shogun rule.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
81 reviews
Excellent
21
Very good
42
Average
16
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Andy F
Devizes, UK1,393 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
This is/ was a private house now opened to the public, alongside several other heritage houses in the same area. It's been in the same family for generations. The current owner was there to talk to us. Quite interesting, but not an awful lot to see.
Written October 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Allennz
Auckland, New Zealand145 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Well worth a visit if you are in Takayama. On three floors, each one has interesting display of folk art and artifacts.
Written August 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adele W
Singapore, Singapore87 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
The house still belongs to the merchant's family who were in the timber business. Best to go with a guide who can give you a running commentary of what you are seeing. There is free tea in the courtyard. There is a tiny cabinet of nutsukes for sale in the newly opened arts and crafts section. The nutsukes are sold on behalf of a Tokyo dealer. The house is huge. If you have never seen the inside of an old Japanese house - here's your chance to take a peek.
Written May 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bella C
Cape Town Central, South Africa448 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
Rebuilt in 1879, after a fire, in the style of the Edo period, this merchant's house contains a fascinating collection of woodcarving, lacquer-ware, porcelain and netsuke.
Well worth a visit.
Well worth a visit.
Written January 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon H
Las Vegas, NV2,101 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
The Kusabe family were successful merchants during the reign of the Tokugawa clan. Their store (Taniya) lent money to the public office. Later it was an exchange house. In 1879 it burned down and the present house was built in 1879 by Jisuke Kawashiri, an expert carpenter, in the Edo style of architecture, using beautiful Japanese cypress throughout with huge beams and pillars and delicate latticework. Seeing the house itself was amazing, but the museum also includes an amazing collection of folk art—furniture (like a “baby minder” chair), hair combs and oil pots, kimonos, ceramics, and more. It is definitely worth seeing this amazing heritage house.
Written August 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mandy P
Zama, Japan77 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
Just because you've been to one heritage house (Yoshijima), still fit this in. If you're strapped on time and have to choose, pick this one. The house has more intricate details, more historical items on display, and offers complimentary green tea.
Written July 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adjimantoro
Jakarta, Indonesia211 contributions
Dec 2015 • Family
I visit this Kusakabe Folk Museum, while waiting for our Shirakawa-go's tour in the evening. The place is a little bit hard to find, make sure that you ask tourism map, in Takayama station.
The house is authentic, and belonged to Kasukabe, a merchant in a year of 1800.
I like what they do with the roof construction, just using lot of wood beam.
There are a lot artefacts in the house, such as : clothes, wood carved items, comb, etc.
At the end, we can enjoy their zen garden while zipping a green tea (ocha).
(Instagram : @adjimantoro)
The house is authentic, and belonged to Kasukabe, a merchant in a year of 1800.
I like what they do with the roof construction, just using lot of wood beam.
There are a lot artefacts in the house, such as : clothes, wood carved items, comb, etc.
At the end, we can enjoy their zen garden while zipping a green tea (ocha).
(Instagram : @adjimantoro)
Written March 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kumiko
Yokosuka, Japan993 contributions
May 2012 • Solo
The Kusakabe house is a prime example of late-Edo architecture. It was once the home of a wealthy merchant family and now displays items including lacquerware, baskets, shelves and tools. You'll be offered tea and a rice cracker in the inner courtyard. Like neighboring Yoshijima house, the emphasis here is on exposed cypress beams and clean lines; there is very little in the way of furniture or adornment with the exception of the Buddhist altar. The building is now used to host various art and cultural events.
Verdict: If you're a fan of Japanese architecture, this will resonate, but if you're looking for a larger number of period artifacts or background info, you might want to consider visiting the Takayama Jinya instead.
Verdict: If you're a fan of Japanese architecture, this will resonate, but if you're looking for a larger number of period artifacts or background info, you might want to consider visiting the Takayama Jinya instead.
Written August 4, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Merlene N
Cape Town, South Africa200 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Fascinating museum and traditionally constructed heritage house once belonging to a merchant family. Objects and art work featured from the Edo period.
Written November 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikki C
New South Wales, Australia76 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
This is a beautiful building although sparsely furnished it still gives you a sense of life back in the day. We visited in winter so appreciated how cold these places can get! Wouldn't say this was a must see but a nice part of the visiting the old part of town. Be aware half of the museum is located up extremely steep ladder-staircases.
Written January 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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