Hachijojima Museum of History and Folklore (former Hachijo Subprefectural Office)

A Former Island Government Office

The Hachijojima Museum of History and Folklore (former Hachijo Subprefectural Office) (八丈島歴史民俗資料館（旧八丈支庁庁舎）) is a single-storey timber former subprefectural office of the early Showa period in Okago, Hachijo Town, Tokyo, which in 1999 was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a metal roof and a building area of 423 square metres, owned by Hachijo Town.

Hachijo Town says it was built in 1939 as the Hachijo branch office of Tokyo Prefecture.

Structure

According to the Agency, it was built immediately after the previous office was wrecked by a typhoon, on an almost symmetrical H-shaped plan.

A straight corridor runs along the north side of the central wing; the central wing has rooms on one side of the corridor, and the side wings on both.

What to Look For

The Agency notes that it is one of the largest buildings on Hachijojima and played an important part in the island's modern history.

Hachijo Town explains that it opened as a museum in 1975 with more than 1,500 archaeological and folk items. It closed for a time because of age and earthquake safety; after the new wing was also registered and the buildings were strengthened and the displays renewed, it reopened on 1 October 2025.

Visiting the Hachijojima Museum of History and Folklore (former Hachijo Subprefectural Office)

Hachijo Town gives opening hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, with admission of 500 yen and free entry for junior high pupils and younger. It is a minute from the Rekishi Minzoku Shiryokan bus stop and about 5 minutes by car from Hachijojima Airport, with parking for 10 cars.

Enquiries: 04996-9-5250.