Former Minomachi Industrial Hall

Former Mino-cho Industrial Hall: A Showa-Era Landmark Illuminated by Washi Paper Light Art

Tucked just off the historic streets of Mino City in Gifu Prefecture, the Former Mino-cho Industrial Hall (Kyū Mino-machi Sangyō Kaikan) is a striking wooden building that has quietly watched over this paper-making town since 1941. Today, the building enjoys a delightful second life as the Mino Washi Akari Art Museum, where the warm glow of handmade washi paper lamps fills its nostalgic interior. Designated as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2005, this two-story wooden structure stands as the largest surviving modern wooden building in the city, offering visitors a rare chance to step inside a piece of Showa-era industrial heritage.

A Building with Two Lives

The Former Mino-cho Industrial Hall was constructed in 1941 (Showa 16) by the Mino-cho Credit, Purchasing, Sales and Utilization Cooperative — a local cooperative organization that supported the town's commerce and industry. At the time, Mino was thriving as one of Japan's most celebrated centers of handmade paper production, and the building served as a hub for the cooperative's various activities, including meetings, sales, and the storage of goods.

The hall was built at a moment of transition in Japanese architecture, when traditional wooden construction techniques were beginning to incorporate Western influences and modern materials. Its scale and design reflect the prosperity of Mino's paper industry, which had brought wealth to the town for centuries through the production of Mino washi, a paper so refined that it was once used for shoji screens in imperial residences.

After serving its original commercial purpose for decades, the building was renovated and reopened as the Mino Washi Akari Art Museum. This transformation gave the historic structure new meaning as a showcase for the very paper tradition that had funded its construction.

Why It Was Registered as a Cultural Property

The Former Mino-cho Industrial Hall was officially registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property on February 9, 2005. Several factors led to its recognition.

First, it represents the largest surviving modern wooden building in Mino City. While Mino is famous for its Edo-period merchant houses with their distinctive udatsu firewalls, examples of early Showa-era commercial architecture have become increasingly rare. The hall preserves the appearance of a transitional period when Japan was modernizing its commercial infrastructure.

Second, the building demonstrates a refined design sensibility that goes beyond ordinary utilitarian construction. The exterior features a clever combination of tile cladding on the lower walls and lap-board siding above, while the front eaves are decorated with hanging ornaments known as yōraku — a decorative motif traditionally associated with Buddhist temple architecture, here applied to a secular commercial building.

Third, the unique horizontal-line treatment of the windows distinguishes the design. The window lintels and sills are connected and extend around nearly the entire building, creating strong horizontal lines that emphasize the structure's broad, dignified presence. This was a sophisticated design choice that gave the modest wooden building a sense of formal architectural composition.

Architectural Highlights

The hall is a two-story wooden structure with a gabled roof covered in slate tiles. It measures 22 meters in length (front-to-back ridge direction) and 11 meters in width (beam direction), with a total building area of approximately 509 square meters. Visitors approaching the building will immediately notice its distinctive exterior composition.

Inside the Mino Washi Akari Art Museum

Today, stepping inside the building means entering a world of soft, glowing light. The ground floor serves as a free rest area and shop, where visitors can browse and purchase washi paper lamp products and other crafts. A large old-fashioned safe still stands as a reminder of the building's commercial past.

The second floor houses the paid exhibition space, dimly lit to recreate the atmosphere of the annual Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition. Award-winning works from past exhibitions are displayed throughout the room, each casting its own gentle pattern of light through translucent handmade paper. Walking through this hushed, lantern-lit space feels like wandering the streets of Mino on the special autumn nights when the town itself is transformed by hundreds of paper lights.

The annual Mino Washi Akari Art Exhibition, held every October, has been running for over a quarter of a century. It has earned recognition including the Tiffany Foundation Award for Traditional Culture and a Good Design Award, and it draws visitors from across Japan and abroad. The museum allows guests to experience the spirit of this celebrated event year-round.

Visitor Information

The Mino Washi Akari Art Museum (housed in the Former Mino-cho Industrial Hall) is open to the public throughout the year. The building is located a short walk from the heart of the Udatsu Townscape Preservation District.

• Opening hours: April to September, 9:00 to 16:30 (last entry 16:15); October to March, 9:00 to 16:00 (last entry 15:45)
• Admission: 200 yen for adults (high school age and above); 150 yen for groups of 20 or more
• Combined tickets are available: a two-site ticket (with the Former Imai Family Residence) costs 400 yen, and a three-site ticket (also including the Mino Washi Museum) costs 800 yen
• Closed days and special holiday closures vary by season — please confirm in advance with the Mino City Tourist Association

Photography of the exhibits is permitted, though touching the artworks is not allowed. The dimly lit interior of the second floor is part of the artistic experience, so please take care on the stairs and when moving between displays.

Surrounding Attractions

The museum sits at the edge of one of Gifu Prefecture's most rewarding walking districts. A visit here pairs naturally with several other historic sites within easy walking distance.