Rules for Special Uses

Nihon Minkaen is an open-air museum preserving and exhibiting important cultural properties.
There are rules regarding special uses below.

  1. Sketch
  2. Photography for personal use
  3. Photography for commercial use
  4. Interview
  5. Academic research

Prior application may be required. Not all applications are acceptable. Please check the notes below before visiting Minkaen for special purposes.

1. Permission for sketch

No application required. However, for groups with over approximately 10 people, please contact us in advance to make your admission to the museum smoothly.

Cautionary Notes

① Painting materials

  • To prevent cultural property from being damaged, oil paints and acrylic paints are prohibited. Besides, only pencil/charcoal is allowed to use inside a folk house (including the porch).
  • Please use the dedicated sink next to The Hara House for cleaning the palette &brushes and disposing used water.

② Easel/chair/sheet

  • To prevent cultural property from being damaged, easel/chair/sheet is not allowed to use on wooden floor or in earth-floored area (doma) or in space under the eaves.
  • Easel/chair/sheet is not allowed to use during the days below, when it is expected to be crowded.

    Days with night opening　(around April 1, the night of harvest moon, around November 23, etc.）
    Festival for Children（May 3~5）
    Festival of Tama Ward（around October）
    Minkaen Festival（November 3）

    We may ask you to stop using or move to another location depending on the situation, even on days other than the days listed above.
  • To prevent congestion of visitors, easel/chair/sheet is not allowed to use in the middle of paths, or at the entrance/exit of folk houses, or in front of explanation board/stone objects/fire extinguishing equipment, or around general entrance of the Yamashita House. We may ask you to stop using or move to another location depending on the situation, even at places other than the ones listed above.

③ Others

  • Do not lean your work/materials against, or place them on folk houses/stone objects/benches/tables.
  • No entrance to stone walls/planting belts, or outside of paths, or into fields/flower beds.
  • Please refrain from occupying rest areas for a long time.
  • Please refrain from having review meeting for art works.
  • Do not use mosquito coils that use fire.
  • Sale of works as postcards is prohibited.

2．Permission for photography for personal use

No application required. However, if the shooting conditions are considered not suitable for the museum or that it will be a nuisance to other visitors, please stop it. For groups with over approximately 10 people, please contact us in advance to make your admission to the museum smoothly.

Cautionary Notes

① Equipment

  • To prevent cultural property from being damaged, tripod/monopod/selfie-stick is not allowed to use on wooden floor, or in earth-floored area (doma), or in space under the eaves.
  • No use of the equipment above during the days below, when it is expected to be crowded.

    Days with night opening（around April 1, the night of harvest moon, around November 23, etc.）
    Festival for Children（May 3~5）
    Festival of Tama Ward（around October）
    Minkaen Festival（November 3）

    We may ask you to stop using or move to another location depending on the situation, even on days other than the days listed above.
  • Board-reflector/large lighting equipment is not allowed to use.
  • Use the electrical outlet in Minkaen is prohibited.

② Use of the photos

  • Posting to individual websites/SNS/blogs is your choice. However, please indicate Nihon Minkaen as shooting location.
  • Application is required for posting on paper media or non-personal websites/SNS/blogs（→「3．Permission for photography for commercial use」）.
  • Participating in photo exhibitions/contests is your choice. However, please indicate Nihon Minkaen as shooting location.
  • Sale of photos as postcards is prohibited.
  • Posting to any stock photo service site is prohibited, regardless of whether it is free of charge.

③ Others

  • Photography for models or cosplay is prohibited.
  • Do not bring in gadgets including long rods or sharp objects.
  • Photography using Minkaen as background is prohibited.
  • Do not take photos of other visitors without their permit.
  • Please refrain from occupying rest areas, trails, and the inside or entrance of an architecture for a long time.
  • No entrance to stone walls/planting belts, or outside of paths, or into fields/flower beds.

3．Permission for photography for commercial use

Please contact us in advance.

(1) Notes

① May accept blow

  • Academic/educational photography/film regarding architecture/folk culture.
  • Photography/film which can publicize Minkaen.

② May not accept blow

  • Filming TV dramas/movies.
  • Photography using Minkaen as background is prohibited.
  • Photography/film which may damage the cultural properties.
  • Photography/film which may disturb general visitors.
  • Photography/film using Minkaen as background of commodities, models, conversations, and etc.
  • Photography/film which may take a long time.
  • Images on which a caption or telop of Minkaen cannot be shown (only listing Minkaen as a partner in the end credits of a TV program or film is not allowed).
  • Shooting on closed days/weekends/national holidays/free admission days, or during closed hours.

(2) Process

① Application

Please contact us by TEL (044-922-2181) about your schedule and purpose by at least 2 weeks before your preferred date. Your request may not be fulfilled because the museum staff attendance is necessary.

② Submission

Please send “Application for Special Use/Interviews” and your scheduling by FAX (044-934-8652) or Email (nihonminkaen@hibiya.co.jp).

（ファイルをダウンロード）Application for Special Use/Interviews (PDF file, 359KB)

We will inform you about the acceptability of your application and if it cost you usage fee.

③ On the day of your visit

Please understand (3) Cautionary Notes (below) and follow the instructions of museum staff.

④ Payment of usage fee

Please pay usage fee as below, if you are required, on the day of your visit. Payment is cash only.
Usage fee
  • Photography/film (architecture)1,010 yen per building
  • Photography/film (other than architecture)300 yen per item
  • Use of original image2,030 yen per original work
※Admission fee is separated.

⑤ Submit us deliverables

Please submit us 1 copy of the deliverables if it is posted on paper media.

(3) Cautionary Notes

① Equipment

  • We do not lend equipment including stepladder/cable reel.
  • Please contact us in advance if you use tripod/monopod/board reflector/lighting equipment/stepladder. However, even if you have received permission in advance, it may be declined according to the condition on the day of your visit.
  • Please bring and use curing materials if you use tripod/monopod/lighting equipment/stepladder on wooden floor or in earth-floored area (doma) or in space under the eaves. If you use the equipment both on wooden floor and in earth-floored area, you need separate curing materials. We do not lend curing materials.
  • Please place your equipment and luggage together in an unobtrusive location. Please use curing materials when placing equipment and luggage on wooden floor or in earth-floored area (doma). Also, do not lean them against the walls or pillars of folk houses.
  • The electrical outlet in the folk house can be used. However, please be careful not to obstruct visitors when wiring.

② photography

  • Please wear the armband of Minkaen as a sign of permission.
  • Do not block the paths, entrance/exit of folk houses.
  • Please give priority to general visitors even during shooting.
  • Do not move the materials on display or explanation board.

③ Others

  • Please contact us for reuse of photos.
  • Please park your car in the Ikuta Ryokuchi East Exit Parking Lot or West Exit Parking Lot (charged）.

4．Permission for interviews

Please contact us in advance.

(1) Process

① Application

Please contact us by TEL（044-922-2181）about your purpose, preferred date and time.

② Submission

Please send “Application for Special Use/Interviews” and your scheduling by FAX (044-934-8652) or Email (nihonminkaen@hibiya.co.jp).

（ファイルをダウンロード）Application for Special Use/Interviews（PDF file, 359KB）

③ on the day of your visit

Please understand (2) Cautionary Notes (below) and follow the instructions of museum staff.

④ Submit us deliverables

Please submit us 1 copy of the deliverables if it is posted to paper media.

(2) Cautionary Notes

① Equipment

  • We do not lend equipment including stepladder/cable reel.
  • Please contact us in advance if you use tripod/monopod/board reflector/lighting equipment/stepladder. However, even if you have received permission in advance, it may be declined according to the condition on the day of your visit.
  • Please bring and use curing materials if you use tripod/monopod/lighting equipment/stepladder on wooden floor or in earth-floored area (doma) or in space under the eaves. If you use the equipment above both on wooden floor and in earth-floored area, you need separate curing materials. We do not lend curing materials.
  • Please place your equipment and luggage together in an unobtrusive location. Please use curing materials when placing equipment and luggage on wooden floor or in earth-floored area (doma). Also, do not lean them against the walls or pillars of folk houses.
  • The electrical outlet in the folk house can be used. However, please be careful not to obstruct visitors when wiring.

② Interviews

  • Please wear the armband of Minkaen as a sign of permission.
  • Please give priority to general visitors even during shooting.
  • Be sure to get permit from the visitor whom you want to photograph or film.

③ Others

  • Please park your car in the Ikuta Ryokuchi East Exit Parking Lot or West Exit Parking Lot (charged）.

5．Permission for academic research

Please contact us in advance for photography/actual measurement/careful inspection.

(1) Notes

① May accept below

② May not accept below

  • What is deemed to damage the cultural properties.
  • What is deemed to disturb general visitors.
  • Use on closed days/weekends/national holidays/free admission days or during closed hours.
  • Photography/actual measurement inside the storage room or above the 2nd floor.

(2) Process

① Application

Please contact us by TEL（044-922-2181）about your purpose, preferred date and time by at least 1 month prior. Your request may not be fulfilled because the museum staff attendance is necessary.

② Submission

Please send “Application for Special Use/Interviews” and your scheduling by FAX (044-934-8652) or Email (nihonminkaen@hibiya.co.jp).

（ファイルをダウンロード）Application for Special Use/Interviews（PDF file, 214KB）

We will inform you about the acceptability of your application and if it cost you usage fee.

③ On the day of your visit

Please understand (3) Cautionary Notes (below) and follow the instructions of museum staff.

④ Payment of usage fee

Please pay usage fee as below, if you are required, on the day of your visit. Payment is cash only.
Usage fee
  • Photography/film (architecture)1,010 yen per building
  • Photography/film (other than architecture)300 yen per item
  • Actual measurement2,030 yen per building
  • Careful inspection300 yen per item
  • Use of original image2,030 yen per original work

The usage fee may be exempt if the purpose is for
  • official work of the government or local public group.
  • operations of private museums/art galleries/libraries/schools/research institutes.
  • academic research.
※Admission fee is separated.

⑤ Submit us deliverables

Please submit us 1 copy of the deliverables if it is post to paper media.

(3) Cautionary Notes

① Equipment

  • Please contact us in advance if you use tripod/monopod/easel/stepladder. However, even if you have received permission in advance, it may be declined according to the condition on the day of your visit. We do not lend any of the equipment above.
  • Please bring and use curing materials if you use tripod/monopod/easel equipment/stepladder on wooden floor or in earth-floored area (doma) or in space under the eaves. When using both on wooden floor and in earth-floored area, you need separate curing materials. We do not lend curing materials.
  • It is allowed to use convex for measuring buildings. Curing is not necessary, but please be careful not to harm the walls, floors or pillars.
  • It is not allowed to using convex for measuring/inspecting objects other than buildings. Please use a tape measure made of cloth or vinyl when measuring.
  • Only pencil or charcoal is allowed to use as writing tools. Do not use the floors, walls or pillars as tables.
  • Please place your equipment and luggage together in an unobtrusive location. Please use curing materials when placing equipment and luggage on wooden floor or in earth-floored area (doma). Also, do not lean them against the walls or pillars of folk houses.

② During working

  • Please wear the armband of Minkaen as a sign of permission, and place the designated signboard at the location where you are working.
  • Do not block the paths, entrance/exit of folk houses.
  • Please give priority to general visitors even during working.
  • Do not move the materials on display or explanation board.