Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum
Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum 屋久島町 歴史民俗資料館
Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum
Yakushima has several worthwhile museums to explore. In the main port town of Miyanoura are the Yakushima Environmental Culture Village Center and the Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum.
Monkey trap, Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum, Miyanoura
Folk tools, Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum, Miyanoura
Exhibits
The Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum is located close to the Miyanoura River in the area where most of the city offices are located. It can easily be visited if you have an hour or so while waiting for a boat to Kagoshima or Tanegashima.
The single story exhibition hall displays a variety of exhibits explaining the local history and culture of Yakushima. There are original Edo Period documents, wood and wicker folk tools, handicrafts, masks, pottery and festival items on display.
Outside the main building is a reconstruction of a rural house where roof tiles known as hiragi were made.
There is also a section dedicated to the nearby, volcanic island of Kuchinoerabu Island, 1 hour, 40 minutes from Yakushima by boat.
The exhibits are labeled in Japanese but visitors are supplied with a returnable laminated sheet in English.
There are also exhibits on Yakushima's native monkeys and deer, sub-species of their larger cousins on the main islands, including a wooden monkey trap. Of particular interest were the exhibits relating to festivals on the island including costumes and a rice straw rope used in a tug-of-war festival between different villages.
The museum opened in 1983.
Local masks and pottery, Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum, Miyanoura
Festival items, Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum, Miyanoura
Access
Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum
1593 Miyanoura
Yakushima-cho, Kumagegun
Kagoshima Prefecture 891-4205
Tel: 0997 42 1900
Hours: 9 am - 5 pm; closed Mondays or the next day if Monday is a National Holiday; December 28 - January 4.
Admission: Adults 100 yen, high school students, junior high and elementary school students 50 yen.
Reconstruction of a Yakushima farm house showing the production of cedar roof slats, Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum, Miyanoura
Accommodation in Yakushima
There is a range of available accommodation on Yakushima from budget minshuku guest-houses to high-end western style hotels and resorts. In Miyanoura try the Minshuku Iwakaya with rooms from around 6,000 yen for budget travelers. The Sankara Hotel & Spa is in the south west of the island near Anbo offers luxury accommodation including Thai massage and French cuisine. The Yakushima Youth Hostel is also on the south coast.
In Onoaida the JR Hotel Yakushima has ocean views. Also in Onoaida is the plushest hotel on the island, the Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel (0997 47 3888) with its own hot springs and wonderful sea vistas.
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Yakushima Town History and Folk Museum has exhibits relating to the history and culture of Yakushima including folk arts, crafts and festival items.
