Engravings Museum

The Engravings Museum in Koga displays artworks created through incised metal plate techniques, where artists cut fine lines and structures into hard surfaces for printing. The exhibition halls present handcrafted prints developed through different methods and approaches within this printmaking tradition.

The museum was established in 1991 and later received recognition as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, highlighting its role in preserving these techniques. This designation reflects the lasting importance of engraving practices within Japanese artistic traditions.

The collection reflects how engraved works once served different audiences and conveyed themes valued across artistic traditions. Visitors can observe which subjects and motifs returned repeatedly, suggesting what mattered to the makers and their viewers.

The museum features labeled exhibition areas with explanations of the techniques used, making it easier to understand the craft processes involved. The rooms are typically arranged so visitors can move through different styles and methods in a logical flow.

The museum preserves works that reveal how differently artists approached the same tools and how they embedded personal marks into their prints. Visitors can often spot individual variations between pieces by the same artist or different artists working in the same period.

Location: Koga

Inception: 1991

Official opening: March 1991

Website: https://city.ibaraki-koga.lg.jp/lifetop/soshiki/tenkoku/top.html

GPS coordinates: 36.19469,139.70281

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:20