Miki Sawada Memorial Museum, Cultural museum in Oiso, Japan.
The Miki Sawada Memorial Museum is a biographical museum in Oiso dedicated to the life of a woman who collected Christian artifacts and operated an orphanage. The building resembles Noah's Ark in shape, with display galleries on the ground level and a chapel space on the upper level.
The founder descended from the Mitsubishi family and began collecting Christian objects starting in 1936 to preserve them for future generations. She also established an orphanage to care for children in need during a transformative period in Japan.
The name reflects Miki Sawada's role in preserving Christianity in Japan, as the collection shows how hidden Christians practiced their faith through everyday objects. Visitors can see how these items reveal the spiritual life of a persecuted community over many centuries.
The museum sits on a hilltop and is accessible by foot, though the terrain means some climbing is involved in reaching and exploring it. Wearing comfortable shoes is recommended for navigating the site and enjoying the full experience of both exhibition and chapel spaces.
The building was intentionally designed to resemble Noah's Ark, creating a visual connection to the spiritual mission of preserving Christian heritage. This distinctive architectural choice merges the building's appearance with the religious meaning of the objects housed within it.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
