Kamakura Museum of National Treasures, Municipal museum in Yukinoshita, Japan
The Kamakura Museum of National Treasures is a city museum displaying around 4800 objects from the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. The collection includes sculptures, paintings, and decorative arts, along with five designated National Treasures.
The museum was founded in 1928 to protect important artworks following the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923. Its building design drew inspiration from the Shosoin treasure house while using modern reinforced concrete construction.
The collection reflects how artistic expression evolved in Kamakura over centuries, showing developments in sculpture and painting that shaped local traditions. Visitors can observe these changes in style and technique across the displayed works.
The museum is situated on the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine, making it easy to combine with a visit to the shrine. Plan your visit for Tuesday through Sunday, as the museum is closed on Mondays.
The building blends traditional Japanese storehouse elements with reinforced concrete, reflecting design choices inspired by local shrine architecture. This combination makes the museum structure itself worth noticing as a work of design that connects past and present.
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