Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum

Mishima Town Local Crafts Museum

This crafts museum, deep in the heart of the beautiful Oku-Aizu region, specialises in braided wicker crafts that have been a staple of the area for centuries. The local people have a strong affinity for handmade crafts, passing techniques down from generation to generation. In addition to learning about the history of the crafts here, visitors can try their hand at it themselves, making a small strap souvenir to take home (1,000 yen per person; reservations required).

There's also an expansive shop on site where visitors can buy baskets, bags, home ornaments and so on.

A trip to Mishima combines well with seeing a passing train at one of Japan's most scenic railway bridges, the Tadami River Bridge No.1, accessible by parking at the Mishima roadside station.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttps://www.okuaizu-amikumi.jp/(Japanese)
Contact

0241-48-5502

Opening Hours

9:00 - 17:00

Closed Mondays (or, next day if public holiday)

Entrance FeeFree to enter
Related infoParking for about 200 vehicles on-site
Access Details
AccessSuwanoue-395 Nairi, Mishima Town, Onuma District, Fukushima 969-7402
View directions
Getting there

By Car: About 1 hour from Aizu-Wakamatsu City

By Train: 20min walk from Aizu-Nishikata Station (Tadami Line, 1 hour from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station)

Useful Links

Guide to Visiting the Famous Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint

Tadami Line: 5 Sights You Shouldn't Miss

Michi-no-Eki Ozekaido Mishima-juku (Roadside Station)

5 Reasons to Visit Mishima Town

Related trips

Nearby

The World Glassware Hall
Hot Springs

Atsushio Onsen

Atsushio Onsen – which means ‘Hot Salt Onsen’ – gets its name because of the high salt content and hot temperature of its source water (70 degrees). For generations, this onsen has been hailed by local people as having healing properties. Also known as ‘Kodomo Takara no Yu’ (‘The Sanctity of Children Onsen’), Atsushio Onsen is home to a Buddhist statue dedicated to the act of raising children. Here you often see mothers paying their respects to deities after their wishes have been realized.

The World Glassware Hall
History & Culture

Enzoji Temple

A symbolic temple of Aizu, Enzoji was built about 1,200 years ago in 807.Fukuman Kokuzo Enzoji Temple (Enzoji Temple for short) was built by Tokuichi Daishi, a noted priest from the Aizu region. The main hall of the temple rises high above a huge crag. From here, the Tadami River can be viewed flowing magnificently through the town.You can also see the various views of each season, with cherry blossoms in spring, mist over the river in summer, red maples in autumn, and snow in winter.The temple has many highlights, such as a treasure house and monuments in memory of poets, inscribed with their poems and haiku.The temple is dedicated to Fukuman Kokuzo Bosatsu (the Bodhisattva of wisdom). There are many legends associated with the temple. For example, one legend tells of how when Kobo Daishi threw wood shavings from the statue of Kokuzo Bosatsu into the Tadami River, they immediately turned into countless Japanese dace fish.Another story is about how a red cow helped with the difficult construction of the temple - a story that led to the widespread acceptance of the "akabeko" red cow as an important symbol of Fukushima.One more story is that of Nanokado Hadaka Mairi ("Naked Man Festival" at Nanukado Temple). The legends are many and varied.

You might also like

Mt. Bandai Eruption Memorial Museum
Museums & Galleries

Mt. Bandai Eruption Memorial Museum

This museum introduces the eruption of Mt. Bandai, and uses large sized models and "body sonic" facilities to give a simulated experience of the eruption in 1888 of Mt. Bandai. The plants and animals that live around Mt. Bandai are introduced using a diorama, and nature observation meetings are held several times a year. This museum has wheelchair access and bathroom facilities.The museum is across the road from Mt. Bandai 3D World, and a combined entrance ticket is available for the two facilities.

The World Glassware Hall
Museums & Galleries

The World Glassware Hall

The World Glassware Hall is located at the foot of Mt. Bandai, by the side of Lake Inawashiro.About 25,000 handmade glassware items, imported directly from countries all over the world, are exhibited and sold at the World Glassware Hall. You can even try your hand at glass etching, or glass blowing.Next to the Glassware Hall is the Inawashiro Original Beer Brewery and a sweets shop. Local Inawashiro beer has received the gold prize in an international beer competition, and can be purchased on site. In the sweets shop, you can try a line up of famous local delicacies.

Fukushima Prefectural Museum
Museums & Galleries

Fukushima Prefectural Museum

The Fukushima Prefectural Museum (Fukushima Museum) [福島県立博物館] is in Aizu-Wakamatsu City, about a ten-minute walk (750 m) from Tsurugajo Castle. The museum covers the history of Fukushima prefecture from the primitive age through modern times with exhibitions of historical items, relics, scale models, and replicas of objects of historical significance.Its general exhibition is divided into six parts and explains the history of the area in chronological order. Starting with archaeological findings from the Glacial Age, the formation of the Japanese islands, and the first settlements (all covered in the Primitive Age section), the exhibits show the cultural developments and the evolving way of life through to modern times. The last exhibit, ‘Fukushima and its Nature’, details the prefecture’s ecosystems and how they have been impacted by natural disasters through the years.The museum also has departmental exhibition rooms that focus on Fukushima’s geological features and folk culture.Visitors can ask for an English guidebook at the entrance, which contains explanations of most items on exhibit. Information in English, Chinese, and Korean is displayed on some screen panels at the museum.The museum also houses a tea room, the Prefectural Museum Tea Room ‘Tsukinai’, that serves lunch and a variety of drinks. To the right of the main entrance is a recreational room for children. The room has a tatami area, children’s books, wooden toys, and decorations in traditional Aizu momen (cotton) textiles, which give it a unique, warm feel. Throughout the year, several special events and activities for children are hosted in this space.

Top