Hakata Machiya Folk Museum

Located across from Kushida Shrine, famous for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum allows visitors to experience nostalgic Hakata life and culture, including festivals and traditional crafts.

The facility consists of three buildings: the Exhibition Building, the Machiya Building, and the Souvenir Shop. The exhibition building introduces visitors to the history and culture of Hakata through themed exhibits using videos and models, while the heritage workshop on the second floor offers daily hands-on experiences such as observing demonstrations of Hakata dolls and Hakata papier-mâché, painting, and making Hakata Magemono.

In the machiya wing, a machiya built in the mid-Meiji period as the residence and factory of a Hakata textile weaver has been relocated and restored. This magnificent machiya with cross corridors and a high atrium gives visitors a glimpse into the lifestyle of the time. A must-see is the many exhibits related to Hakata textiles, a traditional craft that was once offered to the Shogunate. Visitors can watch a demonstration by a craftsman using a valuable hand loom, and a free hand weaving experience is also popular.

The souvenir shop sells famous Hakata sweets, traditional handicrafts, and Folk Museum original goods. It is also the starting point for tours led by volunteer guides to temples and shrines in the area, making it a facility where visitors can fully enjoy the attractions of Hakata by seeing, experiencing, and shopping.