Experience the Home of Gassho-zukuri Houses – Gokayama ! (Free Admission Day)
【This event is finished.】
Watch archive videos about the 3 houses which had been relocated to Minkaen.
～Experience the home of gassho-zukuri houses – Gokayama.～
Enjoy free admission to the museum and experience traditional performing art and culture of Gokayama, the home of the 3 gassho-zukuri (steep-pitched roof) houses in Minkaen!
This year is the 30th anniversary of the registration of Gokayama as a World Heritage Site. A variety of events are held on this day, including the performance of Gokayama folk song “Kokiriko”, stories of Gokayama told around the hearth, tourism promotions for Nanto City of Toyama Prefecture.
Please also drop in at the fair of indigo-dyed goods, and Cafe in the folk house.
*It may be crowed in the museum, so please refrain from sketching using easels, chairs and photographing using tripod. We appreciate your understanding.
*The events will be held in smaller scale if it rains.
- Date: October 18, Saturday, 2025 (Tama Ward Citizen Festival is held in the Ikuta-Ryokuchi Park on the same day!)
- Time: Varies from event to event. See details below.
- Fee: Free admission on the day.
Events on the day
Performance of Gokayama Folk Song “Kokiriko”
Traditional folk song “Kokiriko” (dance with sasara, a traditional instrument), "Mugiya" (dance with bamboo hat) and others, which have been handed down through generations in Gokayama.- Time: [1]11:00 [2]13:00 [3]15:00 (30 minutes for each performance)
- Performer: Society of Preserving Kokiriko Song of Gokayama
- Place: the yard of 6. The Sasaki House *Inside the house if it rains.
- Fee: Free
Stories of Gokayama told around the sunken hearth / Archive Videos of Gokayama
Listen to the stories about the history and culture of Gokayama while relaxing around the sunken hearth.Watch archive videos about the 3 houses which had been relocated to Minkaen.
- Time: 10:00 ~ 16:00
- Place: 9. The Nohara House
- Fee: Free
- Time: starts from 10:00 （played in between story-telling）
- Theme: the living in Gokayama, the World Heritage Site, etc.
- Time: starts from 11:30, about 30 minutes every hour （told in between video-playing）
[Archive Videos of Gokayama]
[Story-telling]
Experience the Handicraft of Gokayama
Introductions and hand-on experience of crafting straw sandals, boots, Japanese paper, Sasara (a traditional Japanese percussion instrument) and etc.- Time: 10:00 ~ 16:00
- Place: 8. The Yamada House
- Fee: Free *2,000 yen each for taking away (special price for the event, numbers limited)
Tourism promotions
Pamphlets and photos introducing Gokayama and Nanto City are on exhibit.
Pamphlets and photos introducing Gokayama and Nanto City are on exhibit.
- Time: 10:00 ~ 16:00
- Place: 8. The Yamada House
- Fee: Free
Special Exhibition
“Living in Gokayama – 30th Anniversary of the Registration as a World Heritage Site”
- Time: 9:30 ~ 17:00
- Place: the Exhibition Room in the Main Building * Please refer to the page for Special Exhibition “Living in Gokayama – 30th Anniversary of the Registration as a World Heritage Site”for details.
Other events held on the same day
Indigo Dyeing Fair
Art works by the staff of Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop are on exhibit. Indigo dyed stoles, traditional hand towels, T-shirts and others can be purchased.
- Time: 9:30 ~ 16:45
- Place: the museum shop in the main building
Workshop of Indigo Dyeing (Handkerchief with Snow Flake Pattern)
Make Snow flake pattern to a handkerchief by indigo dyeing.- Time: [1]10:00 ~, [2]13:00 ~ *About 30 minutes for each
- Place: Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop (The West Gate of Minkaen)
- Everyone can participate. (elementary schooler or younger children must be accompanied by the guardian) *1 accompany at most
- Reception: 9:50 ~ 11:15, 12:50 ~ 14:15. First come, first served
- Fee: 1,320 Yen (handkerchief and rubber gloves included)
* Please refer to the page of Indigo dyeing Fair for details.
Café in the folk house
You can enjoy coffee, Japanese black tea, baked sweets, and etc. while relaxing in the tatami room of the Hara house, which is an Important Cultural Property of Kawasaki City. Please drop in during your visit to Minkaen.- Opening Hours: 11:00 ~ 16:00 (last order 15:30) *will close when sold out
- Place: 1st Floor of 0. The Hara house * Please refer to the page for Café in the Folk House for details.
