Namahage Museum, Tohoku, Japan
4.0 (206 reviews) Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent Ranking #2 in Akita Prefecture Speciality Museums
Local culture
Though it was close to an hour drive from Akita city, we continued to visit this museum as the local culture here in Akita is centred on namahage. Even at the JR train station, you can see traces of namahage. When we visited, there wasn’t many people as it might be the Low season. It was late November when we visited. The museum has alot of namahage masks on display. There was a show dictating how this namahage started and there were many stories. It was intriguing to watch the video and then looking at the artefacts on display. At the end of the museum, like all tourists destination in Japan, they have a souvenir shop. One can literally buy a namahage mask home but for me, I just bought some snacks for the drive back to Akita city. Overall, it’s a very good experience understanding the local culture and I must say if you are in Akita, this should be your top itinerary.
Address
Mizukuisawa Kitaurashinzan, Oga 010-0685 Akita Prefecture
Mobile
Website
http://www.namahage.co.jp/namahagekan/
Working hours
Monday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Current local date and time now
Friday, May 10, 2024, 7:05
User Ratings
4.0 based on (206 reviews)
Reviews
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5ChrisKullstroem 5:00 PM Jun 30, 2014
The Namahage Museum is an Excellent Venue of Monster Culture
I came upon the Namahage Museum during a trip to Akita for the legendary Namahage Festival in early February. The Museum provides several excellent resources for both locals and visitors to learn the history and culture of the Namahage: the monsters from the Snowy Mountain which descend once a year to terrorize children. Both during the festival and throughout the year, the Museum shows documentary footage of a traditional Namahage visit to Japanese homes, showing in all its glory the fear and terror these creatures induce in children. Visitors can also see hundreds of traditional Namahage costumes and masks on display, and even try on an authentic costume and mask and have their picture taken free of charge. The Museum also has a cafe and Learning Center where visitors can read through several publications in Japanese and English about the Namahage and other similar creatures throughout the world. Visitors without their own transportation can reach the Museum by bus from the nearby town of Akita.
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5LVV 5:00 PM Aug 2, 2021
Great little museum
If you want to learn about the unique tradition of Namahage, this is the best place to go. There's an exhibit with information about the tradition, a documentary explaining everything carefully, and an exhibition of over 100 different Namahage costumes from different parts of the peninsula. There was sufficient English information in the museum. The dress-up activity is closed due to the pandemic, but there's a photo corner instead. Don't forget to check out the performance in the building next door (ticket required). When planning a visit by public transportation, make sure to reserve the shuttle service in advance. A taxi will take you from the station to the museum and back for 1100 yen one way. This is much cheaper than taking a regular taxi.
