The House of the Mishima Calendar Maker: Where Japan's Oldest Kana Calendar Was Born

Tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood just a short walk east of the venerable Mishima Taisha Grand Shrine, the Mishima Koyomishi no Yakata (Hall of the Mishima Calendar Maker) stands as a living testament to centuries of astronomical scholarship and printing craftsmanship. Formerly known as the Kawai Family Residence, this single-story wooden building has been transformed into a museum dedicated to the Mishima Calendar (Mishima-goyomi)—recognized as the oldest printed kana-script calendar in Japan. Registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property in 2006, the building itself carries a fascinating history, having been reconstructed from a disused checkpoint station after the devastating Ansei Earthquake of 1854.

Historical Background: Fifty Generations of Calendar Making

The history of the Mishima Calendar stretches back to the Kamakura period or possibly even earlier. According to family tradition, the ancestors of the Kawai clan migrated from the Kamo area of Yamashiro Province (modern-day Kyoto) to Mishima during the Hōki era (770–781), bringing with them the knowledge of onmyōdō (the way of yin and yang) and astronomical observation. Settling within the sacred precincts of Mishima Taisha, the Kawai family began producing calendars—a task that would continue for an astounding fifty generations.

The Mishima Calendar is a lunisolar calendar (taiin-taiyō-reki) based primarily on the cycles of the moon, with adjustments for the solar year incorporated through the twenty-four seasonal divisions known as nijūshi sekki. What made it revolutionary was its use of kana script—the phonetic Japanese syllabary—rather than the Chinese characters used in official calendars. This meant that common people, women, and children could read and understand it, making it one of the most accessible calendars of its era.

The oldest surviving example of the Mishima Calendar dates to 1437 (Eikyō 9), discovered as backing paper for the cover of a manuscript. During the Muromachi period, the name "Mishima" became synonymous with printed calendars throughout Japan, even in Kyoto. The calendar was so prestigious that it was adopted by the Kamakura shogunate and later became the officially recognized calendar of the Tokugawa shogunate. Historical records indicate that feudal lord Oda Nobunaga and shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu both relied upon the Mishima Calendar.

In a notable historical episode in 1582, a dispute arose between the Mishima Calendar and the Kyoto Calendar over the placement of an intercalary month. Oda Nobunaga himself summoned representatives of both calendars to Azuchi Castle to debate the matter—a testament to the authority the Mishima Calendar commanded. The Kawai family continued their calendar production until 1872 (Meiji 5), when the Meiji government adopted the Gregorian solar calendar, bringing the era of traditional Japanese calendars to a close.

Why It Was Designated: The Cultural Significance of the Building

The Kawai Family Residence was registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property (building) on October 18, 2006. The building is a single-story wooden structure with a tiled roof, measuring approximately 218 square meters in floor area. Its architectural layout consists of nine and a half ken (approximately 17 meters) along the ridge and four and a half ken (approximately 8 meters) in depth, with a kirizuma-zukuri (gabled) roof covered in san-gawara (pantiles).

The most distinctive architectural feature is the shikidai genkan (formal entrance) on the north side, topped by a mukuri hafu—a gently curved gable that gives the roofline an elegant, swelling profile characteristic of samurai-class residences. The interior is organized with an earthen-floored work area (doma) to the east and six rooms arranged in two rows to the west, with a formal eight-tatami reception room positioned in the northwest corner. The elevated kamiza (seat of honor) in the inner reception room reflects the high social standing of the Kawai family as privileged retainers of Mishima Taisha.

The building's origin adds another layer of historical significance. After the Ansei Earthquake of 1854 destroyed the original Kawai residence, the Nirayama Magistrate Egawa Tarōzaemon arranged for a decommissioned checkpoint building from Jūrigiki in Susono (present-day Susono City) to be relocated and reassembled on the site. This makes the structure a valuable surviving example of both late-Edo period samurai-style residential architecture and repurposed checkpoint construction.

Highlights and Things to See

The museum offers an intimate and engaging experience that brings the world of traditional Japanese calendar making to life. Upon entering the grounds through a traditional gate, visitors are greeted by a tranquil Japanese garden featuring a prominent sago palm (sotetsu)—planted in reference to the Sotetsu no Ma (Sago Palm Room) at Edo Castle, where Kawai family representatives were received when they delivered the annual calendar to the Tokugawa shogunate.

Inside the museum, highlights include original woodblock printing plates (hangi) carved from wild cherry wood, which were used to print the calendars. Visitors can see historical examples of the three types of Mishima Calendar: the maki-goyomi (scroll calendar) presented as tribute to the shogunate, the tsuzuri-goyomi (bound calendar) sold to commoners, and the ryaku-goyomi (abbreviated calendar) for everyday use. The delicately carved kana characters on the woodblocks are remarkably beautiful, and their fine lines helped inspire the name "Mishima-de" (Mishima style) given to a type of Korean Joseon dynasty tea bowl admired in Japanese tea ceremony.

One of the most popular activities is the hands-on calendar printing experience, offered free of charge and without prior reservation. Using replica woodblocks modeled after an 1843 Mishima Calendar, visitors can try their hand at the traditional process of applying ink with a roller and pressing paper against the block with a baren—discovering firsthand the skill required to produce clean, legible prints. Knowledgeable volunteer guides from the Mishima Koyomi no Kai (Mishima Calendar Association) are on hand to offer detailed explanations in Japanese about the history of the calendar and the building.

Nearby Attractions

The Mishima Koyomishi no Yakata is ideally located for combining with a visit to several notable attractions in Mishima. Mishima Taisha Grand Shrine, one of the most important Shinto shrines in the Izu region, is just a five-minute walk to the west. The shrine's grounds are home to a designated Natural Monument—a massive fragrant olive tree (kinmokusei) believed to be over 1,200 years old.

The area around Mishima Station and the shrine is known for its beautiful waterways fed by underground springs from Mount Fuji, creating picturesque streams and ponds throughout the town. Mishima is also renowned for its unagi (freshwater eel) restaurants, where eels are purified in the clear spring water before preparation—making this a must-try local delicacy. The Sano Art Museum, showcasing Japanese swords and other art, and the Rakujuen Garden with its scenic pond and seasonal flowers are also within easy reach.

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Q&A

QWhat is the Mishima Calendar, and why is it historically significant?
AThe Mishima Calendar (Mishima-goyomi) is a traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar written in kana script. It is considered the oldest printed kana-character calendar in Japan, with the earliest surviving example dating to 1437. Produced by the Kawai family for over fifty generations, it was used throughout eastern Japan and was officially recognized by both the Kamakura and Tokugawa shogunates.
QIs the museum free to enter?
AYes, admission to the Mishima Koyomishi no Yakata is completely free. The hands-on calendar printing experience is also offered at no charge. Groups of 20 or more are asked to make a reservation in advance.
QCan I try printing a Mishima Calendar myself?
AYes, visitors can experience traditional woodblock printing using replica printing plates based on an 1843 Mishima Calendar. No reservation is required, and the experience is free. You can take your printed calendar home as a unique souvenir.
QHow do I get to the museum from Mishima Station?
AThe museum is approximately a 20-minute walk from JR Mishima Station's south exit. Alternatively, you can visit Mishima Taisha Grand Shrine first and then walk about 5 minutes east to the museum, following the directional markers embedded in the pavement along the way.
QWhy was the current building reconstructed from a checkpoint station?
AThe original Kawai family residence was destroyed in the great Ansei Earthquake of 1854. The Nirayama Magistrate, Egawa Tarōzaemon, arranged for a disused checkpoint building from Jūrigiki in Susono to be relocated to the site. This samurai-style structure was considered appropriate for the high-status Kawai family and preserves architectural features of a late-Edo period official building.

Basic Information

Name Mishima Koyomishi no Yakata (Hall of the Mishima Calendar Maker) / Former Kawai Family Residence Main Building
Cultural Property Designation National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building), registered October 18, 2006
Construction Period Late Edo period (after the 1854 Ansei Earthquake), relocated from Jūrigiki Checkpoint in Susono
Structure Single-story wooden building, tiled roof (kirizuma-zukuri), approximately 218 m² floor area
Address 2-5-16 Ōmiya-chō, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-0035, Japan
Owner City of Mishima
Opening Hours 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday), year-end and New Year holidays
Admission Free
Access Approximately 20 minutes on foot from JR Mishima Station (south exit); approximately 5 minutes on foot from Mishima Taisha Grand Shrine
Telephone 055-976-3088

References

三嶋暦師の館（旧河合家住宅主屋） – 文化遺産オンライン
https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/141648
三嶋暦師の館 – 三島市観光Web
https://www.mishima-kankou.com/spot/290/
三嶋暦師の館 – Wikipedia
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E5%B6%8B%E6%9A%A6%E5%B8%AB%E3%81%AE%E9%A4%A8
三島暦 – Wikipedia
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E5%B3%B6%E6%9A%A6
三嶋暦師の館 – Monumento
https://ja.monumen.to/spots/475
三嶋暦師の館 – 三島市公式サイト
https://www.city.mishima.shizuoka.jp/kanko_content006484.html
歴史の小箱 – 三島市郷土資料館
https://www.city.mishima.shizuoka.jp/kyoudo/publication/pub_kobako001751.html

Last verified: 2026.03.28