Urawa Museum of Traditional Architecture

The Urawa Museum of Traditional Architecture displays several traditional Japanese buildings arranged across an outdoor site, showcasing construction methods from different eras. The collection focuses on residential homes from ordinary people, offering insight into daily life and the craftsmanship of their time.

The museum was founded in 1995 to preserve traditional Japanese architecture and gather buildings from different regions in one location. The focus from the start was to document construction methods that would have otherwise been lost.

The residential structures on display show how Japanese families adapted their homes to local climates and available materials over generations. Walking through them reveals the values people placed on craftsmanship and how building traditions varied from region to region.

The site is best explored on foot, with paths between buildings that are mostly level and easy to navigate. Plan time to examine each space carefully and read the available explanations to better understand the construction details.

The buildings were carefully relocated from different parts of Japan and reconstructed at this site to save them from demolition. This means you can walk through actual historical homes that have retained their original craftsmanship and materials.

Location: Shimoyamaguchishinden

Official opening: April 1995

Address: 埼玉県さいたま市緑区下山口新田1179-1

Website: https://city.saitama.jp/004/005/004/005/003

GPS coordinates: 35.87835,139.71062

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:24