Obuse Museum

The Obuse Museum is an art gallery in Obuse dedicated to displaying works by Edo period master Hokusai. The collection features ceiling paintings, woodblock prints, and festival float decorations that showcase the range of his artistic skill.

The museum was founded in 1992 to preserve Hokusai's works created during his final years in Obuse, where he lived under the support of merchant Takai Kozan. This relationship allowed the artist to focus entirely on his creative output.

The collection includes two traditional festival floats decorated with Hokusai's ceiling paintings showing dragons, phoenixes, and wave patterns. These pieces reveal how local festival traditions intersected with the vision of one of Japan's greatest artists.

The museum is easily accessible on foot from Obuse Station and operates on a daily schedule. Plan to spend enough time viewing the detailed works and large festival decorations at a leisurely pace.

The museum houses rare three-dimensional works by Hokusai, including wave murals painted for the Kanmachi Float. These special pieces reveal a different side of the artist beyond his famous prints.

Location: Obuse

Official opening: October 22, 1992

Website: https://town.obuse.nagano.jp/site/obusemuseum

GPS coordinates: 36.69849,138.31899

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:44