Tomioka Okabe Onkokan Museum

The Okabe Onkokan Museum in Tomioka, Gunma, opened in 1983. On display are the history of the Okabe family, a wealthy merchant family that prospered in this area by trading hemp and whetstones from the late Edo period through the Meiji era, along with many items carefully preserved by their descendants over generations.

The exhibits are divided among three buildings: Building 1, a solid earthen storehouse-style structure that recalls the area’s former prosperity, plus Buildings 2 and 3.

Building 1 features a wide-ranging collection, from modern everyday items such as interior decor, phonographs, and record cases, to books including Hokusai Manga by the ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai, and Kashan Gafu, an art book by the painter Watanabe Kazan. Building 2 mainly displays items that offer a glimpse into daily life, such as farming tools, kitchenware, and traditional Japanese chests (watasu-dansu). Building 3 focuses on detailed information about Okabe Eishin, a leading figure of the Okabe family who contributed to the region’s development.

It’s an essential place to take a deeper look into the area’s history, development, and culture.