Kahoku-cho Benibana Material Hall, Safflower museum in Kahoku, Japan
Kahoku-cho Benibana Material Hall is a museum housed in a former merchant residence displaying over 5,000 objects from different periods. The collection includes weapons, household goods, and documents that tell stories of local commerce and daily life.
The building served as the home of Shiroubei Horikome, a prosperous safflower merchant of the early 1800s. His trading activities reflected a time when this dye was highly valued across Japan and beyond.
The space displays traditional dolls and garments dyed with safflower, along with models of vessels that once carried these precious goods. You can observe how deeply this dye trade shaped local craftsmanship and daily commerce.
The museum is spread across a large building complex, so allow time for a full tour of the space. Display areas are on multiple levels and some sections may have narrow passages or uneven floors.
You can dye silk handkerchiefs yourself using traditional methods in a restored historical storehouse on the grounds. This hands-on experience connects your visit directly to the techniques that craftspeople once used in this place.
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