Machi-gurumi Museum at-home

a Fantastic and Nostalgic Space

Established in the year of Bunka (1804), we are proud of our shop front and a warehouse in the courtyard behind the shop which was designated as a cultural asset by the Prefectural government.

In one corner of the shop is a space for the exhibition of old tools and kimonos.

During the seasons of the Girls' and Boys' Festivals, a set of old dolls are displayed in that corner.

Standing in the courtyard, you might drift off into another world. Our shop has been used as the background of many films and TV dramas.

You can feel such a fantastic and nostalgic mood inside the shop.

The Contents of exhibition

a warehouse, courtyard, space for exhibition

address

505, Sawara-I, Katori City

phone

0478-52-3030

URL

http://m-kaze.com/sawara/fukushin.html

open

9:30-18:00

shop holiday

no regular holiday

The contents of exhibition

antique

address

508, Sawara-I,Katori City

phone

0478-52-2181

open

8:00-18:00

shop holiday

Sundays, national holidays

Pieces of Flavored Antique

The charcoal-table, long tobacco pipes and big dishes were found in the depth of our warehouse built 250 or 260 years ago. A pitcher with a faucet (it is an interesting item but we cannot find how and what this pitcher was used for). Enjoy taking a look at these strange but interesting items.

The contents of exhibition

the four seasons at our shop

address

517-7, Sawara-I, Katori City

phone

0478-52-2367

URL

http://park18.wakwak.com/~katoriseikaten/

open

9:00-20:00

shop holiday

none

Does'nt seem to be a Flower Shop at first sight

Three generations have worked at this flower shop since my grandmother started her business, pulling a hand cart loaded with flowers.

Dealing in flowers, we can perceive the arrival of each season faster than anyone else can.

We intend to make every possible effort to develop our business in which the perception of the four seasons is greatly valued.

You can choose any kind of flowers out of our best selections for you, beside the ones distributed at the flower markets. You can buy the vegetable flowers my mother raises on her farm, some of which may be diffrcult for you to find in the urban areas.

We are looking forward to your visit.

The contents of exhibition

literature and amusement of Taisho Period

address

1901, Sawara-I, Katori City

phone

0478-52-2669

open

12:00-16:30

shop holiday

none

The town where INO Tatadaka lived

In the Taisho Period, the shop owner, who lived here, invited a school teacher to teach his son (15 years old at the time) some school subjects in the evening. The time schedule, textbooks and toys used by the child are displayed on the shelves.

Although Sawara was a town forcusing on commerce, there were still quite a few great scholors and school teachers. Even though Sawara was a rural town, the culture was surprisingly deep.

The contents of exhibition

handmade earpicks

address

504, Sawara-I, Katori City

phone

0478-52-2588

open

10:00-18:00

shop holiday

not regular

Art of handmade works

handmade earpicks

You can see the hand works of earpicks. And you can order custom-make earpicks for your own.

The contents of exhibition

fixture, antique of Edo Period

address

1721-12, Sawara-I, Katori City

phone

0478-52-2335

open

10:00-17:00

shop holiday

not regular

Coffee House where the Flavor of Edo Period can be found

Many items is displayed in the room, such as the sliding doors of maple wood along one side of the room where Mito Komon (the second lord of Mito domain) spent a night, the openwork screens of zelkova set above the partitions between rooms, the iron covers of the thick nails, the concave round finger-catches of the papered sliding doors (elaborately carved), the Tang-styled tobacco tray made during the years of Tenpo (1830-), and Japan wares, porcelain, vases, hilts of the swords dating back to Edo Period.

Enjoy appreciating these items over a cup of tea.

The contents of exhibition

cut-out work plotting views of Sawara

address

606, Sawara-I, Katori City

phone

0478-52-3352

open

9:00-19:00

shop holiday

Wednesdays

cut-out work plotting views of Sawara

Our shop front may look like a traditional clothing shop. However, once you walk in through its door, you may be surprised to see the fantastic ki-ri-es (paper cut-out pictures) displayed on the walls.

Those ki-ri-es which depict the things in Sawara, such as the old townscape, festival floats, and iris flowers have had a great response from the visitors to our shop. Many of the ki-ri-es by Mr. Noguchi have been printed on wrapping paper and used as the illustrations in various booklets and magazines.

The contents of exhibition

The traditional Japanese inn

address

498, Sawara-I, Katori City

phone

0478-52-2814

The traditional Japanese inn

The traditional Japanese inn.

The contents of exhibition

long chest, cash box etc.

address

3398, Sawara-I, Katori City

phone

0478-52-3438

URL

http://homepage2.nifty.com/abumo/

open

9:00-19:00

shop holiday

not regular

A 350-year Tradition

It is traditionally believed that our grandmother, who was born in a samurai family, brought this long chest with her when she married and moved into her husband's home in the late Edo Period. It may have been filled with futon sets and other beddings for her.

The cash box has an opening for inserting coins on its upper surface. You can make out the inscription of the era name of 'Ansei (1854-)' on the back of the box.

The special safe for storing important documents has a pair of cords so you can carry the safe out on your back in case of flfe. It was also made during the years of 'Ansei'.

The contents of exhibition

bonsai stone and bonsai

address

3401, Sawara-I, Katori City

phone

0478-52-3755

open

9:00-11:30 15:00-19:00

shop holiday

Wednesdays

the Luster and Color of Original Stone

Sui-Sekis(Water-Stones or Bonsai Stone)need sprinkling water on them every day in order to cultivate their origina luster and color.This process is called“Stone Culture.”You can see a lot of selected Sui-Sekis:stones called Seta-gawa, Kamo'gawa, Saji'gawa，Kamui-kotan，Kamanashi-gawa，Kotaro，Kuji-gawa，Hakkai-san,Yohei.

We also show a lot of painstakingly cultivated bonsais of miniature pine trees and other miscellaneous trees.