Matsura Historical Museum, Historical museum in Hirado, Japan
The Matsura Historical Museum occupies a residence built in 1893 that showcases traditional Japanese architecture with carefully crafted wooden details and original interior spaces. The building itself reflects how a prominent family lived, and it houses around 30,000 objects spanning the family's lengthy history.
The Matsura family ruled Hirado from the Kamakura period until the end of the Edo period, a span of around 650 years of continuous authority. This lengthy period allowed them to accumulate one of the largest private collections in the region.
The collection displays objects spanning centuries of Matsura family rule, including samurai armor and documents that reveal how this region engaged in trade with Europeans through Nagasaki. These items show how the area maintained unusual connections during Japan's period of limited contact with the outside world.
The museum is open daily and the route takes you through different areas of the historic house with clear navigation. If you plan to visit multiple locations in Hirado, combined tickets are available for various attractions in the town.
The museum grounds include the Kaunntei teahouse where you can experience the Chinnoriu style of tea ceremony, a practice preserved by the Matsura family. This form of tea ceremony differs from other better-known Japanese traditions and remains unfamiliar to most international visitors.
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