Denshōen, Open-air museum in Tōno, Japan.
Denshoen is an open-air museum in Tono that displays traditional farmhouses and agricultural structures representing rural Japanese architecture. The grounds cover several hectares with gardens and fields that allow visitors to explore how rural communities were built and organized.
The museum was established to preserve traditional building methods and rural ways of life for future generations. Within the grounds, the Kikuchi Family Magariya house was designated a National Important Cultural Asset, demonstrating construction techniques specific to the region's history.
The museum preserves the work of Sasaki Kizen, who recorded local folklore and collected oral traditions passed down through generations. His documentation shows how people lived and what stories shaped daily life in this region.
The grounds are best explored on foot, with pathways leading through the houses and fields for a leisurely walk through the site. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the terrain is natural and a full visit typically spans several hours.
The Oshirado Hall holds around a thousand Oshirasama figures, traditional wooden dolls rooted in folk beliefs of northern Japan. This collection represents a form of spiritual expression that has become rare today and offers insight into older practices once common in the region.
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