Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History, History museum in Minami-nakadōri, Japan.
The Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History sits in a classical building featuring a restored dome and ornate stone facades in downtown Yokohama. Inside, galleries display objects spanning from ancient times through modern periods, telling the story of how the region developed and changed.
The building started as the Yokohama Specie Bank headquarters in 1904 during a time of rapid growth in the region. It survived the devastating 1923 earthquake and was later reimagined as a museum to serve the public.
The museum displays thousands of ukiyo-e woodblock prints that shaped Japanese artistic traditions and continue to reveal how people saw their world. These works show the everyday scenes, stories, and values that mattered to communities across different eras.
The museum sits near major train stations and is easy to reach on foot from the city center. Plan your visit by checking current exhibitions beforehand, as displays rotate and some areas may have limited access depending on the day.
The structure and its grounds earned a rare designation as a National Historic Site of Japan, honoring both the building and the space around it. This recognition reflects how the whole setting represents an important moment in how the country modernized.
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