Koga History Museum

Koga History Museum sits on the grounds of the former Koga Castle and displays materials about the region's history, Dutch studies, and calligraphy across three permanent exhibition rooms. The building was designed by a contemporary architect and arranges these spaces in a functional layout.

The site served as the region's administrative center until the Meiji Restoration transformed Japan in the mid-1800s. After the castle was demolished following this major national shift, the land was eventually used for this cultural facility.

The first exhibition room displays materials on Dutch studies gathered by a scholar of the Edo period. This collection reflects the interest in Western knowledge that spread among Japanese intellectuals of that era.

The museum is roughly 15 minutes on foot from the train station and easy to reach by walking. Visitors should note that exhibitions are accessible during regular hours and the grounds are quite compact overall.

The museum houses a Dutch street organ dating from the era of cultural exchange between Japan and the Netherlands. This instrument shows how Western objects made their way into Japanese society.

Location: Koga

Inception: 1990

Architects: Keiji Yoshida

Official opening: 1990

Address: 茨城県古河市中央町3-10-56

Website: https://city.ibaraki-koga.lg.jp/lifetop/kogameguri/history_cultual_property/3_1/7639.html

GPS coordinates: 36.19142,139.70126

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:11