The Farmhouses of Iwate Prefectural Museum
Iwate Prefectural Museum, a general museum of natural and cultural history in Ueda, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, displays in its grounds two thatched farmhouses that were moved there from elsewhere in the prefecture in 1980. The two buildings, the Former Sasaki Family Residence and the Former Fujino Family Residence, were designated on the same day, 31 May 1978, and each holds the national rank of Important Cultural Property (Important Cultural Property).
The Sasaki house came from Iwaizumi in the Shimohei District, and the Fujino house from Ide in the former city of Esashi, now part of Oshu. Their official names still record those original locations. Both are owned by Iwate Prefecture.
The outdoor area of Iwate Prefectural Museum also includes a lawn park, a botanical garden and a rock garden. Most visitors tour the galleries first and then walk out to the two farmhouses.
Two Ways of Living with Horses at Iwate Prefectural Museum
Together, the farmhouses at Iwate Prefectural Museum illustrate the two classic types of rural house in Iwate. The Sasaki house is a magariya, an L-shaped farmhouse from the mountains of the former Morioka (Nanbu) domain, with the stable projecting from one end of the living quarters. The Fujino house is a sugoya, a straight, rectangular farmhouse from the former Sendai domain; its stable stood in a separate building.
The line between the two types roughly follows the old domain border. In Nanbu villages, people and horses lived under one roof, while farmers in the Sendai domain kept them apart. At the museum the contrast takes only a few minutes' walk to see, and the roofs make it obvious: the Sasaki house's hipped roof turns the corner onto its projecting wing, while the Fujino house has a gabled hip at one end only.
The national database dates the Fujino house to the first half of the 19th century and the Sasaki house to around the second half. Each house has its own page with details of its structure and what to look for.
Visiting the Farmhouses at Iwate Prefectural Museum
Iwate Prefectural Museum is open 9:30–16:30, with last entry at 16:00. It is closed on Mondays (or the following weekday when Monday is a holiday), from 1 to 10 September for collection work, and from 29 December to 3 January. The farmhouses are open on the same days as the museum. Admission is 360 yen for adults and 170 yen for students, and free for high school age and under. The museum does not say whether a ticket is needed just to see the outdoor houses, so ask at reception.
The museum lends both farmhouses to groups for cultural events such as tea gatherings and concerts, so you may find one in use. To protect the buildings, staff light fires in the kitchen hearths, and the interiors smell of smoke. Floor levels change often inside, so watch your step.
From Morioka Station, take a bus bound for Matsuzono from stop 11 in front of the station and get off at Kenritsu Hakubutsukan-mae or Nishi-Matsuzono 2-chome; the museum recommends the Matsuzono-Yamagishi Line. By car, the museum is about 20 minutes from the Takizawa interchange of the Tōhoku Expressway and around 25 minutes from the Morioka interchange.
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Former Sasaki Family Residence
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/93
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Former Fujino Family Residence
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/92
- Iwate Prefectural Museum: Outdoor Exhibits (Farmhouses)
- https://www2.pref.iwate.jp/~hp0910/tenji_floor/okugai_minka.html
- Iwate Prefectural Museum: Use of the Farmhouses
- https://www2.pref.iwate.jp/~hp0910/tenji_floor/okugai_minka_riyou.html
- Iwate Prefectural Museum: Hours and Closures
- https://www2.pref.iwate.jp/~hp0910/guide/index.html
- Iwate Prefectural Museum: Admission
- https://www2.pref.iwate.jp/~hp0910/guide/guide.html
- Iwate Prefectural Museum: Access
- https://www2.pref.iwate.jp/~hp0910/access/index.html
Last verified: 2026.10.05
Basic Information
| Name | Iwate Prefectural Museum |
|---|---|
| Location | Iwate Prefectural Museum, 34 Matsuyashiki, Ueda, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture |
| Owner | Iwate Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (2) |
| Coordinates | 39.75369, 141.15384 |
