Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum

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Shoji Hamada Memorial Mashiko Sankokan Museum

Walk through a spacious environment and see the collections of Shoji Hamada, a living national treasure.

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This museum utilizes the preserved home of Shoji Hamada, a legend who spread Mashiko ware around the world. In the spacious garden are 5 buildings including the oya-stone warehouse, a thatched roof house, and a climbing kiln. Each building features various exhibits in different environments.

Shoji Hamada was a living national treasure (part of an intangible cultural heritage) who moved to Mashiko and worked as a potter. He was the pioneer of the Mingei movement, worked alongside Yanagi Soetsu, and supported the movement.

In the Mashiko Sankokan Museum, visitors can see various pottery collected by Hamada himself on his trips to the UK, Okinawa, China, Korea, Taiwan, the Pacific islands, Europe, South America and more. He was inspired and delighted by his collections. The name “Sankokan”refers to the Japanese word for “Reference”. The museum aims to have these collections as a source of reference for visitors. The permanent exhibit features Hamada’s works and collections. Visitors can also see his friends’ works such as Bernard Leach and Kanjiro Kawai. Special exhibits open twice a year.

The fourth pavilion has a Windsor chair collected by Hamada. Visitors can sit and relax.

Highlights

  • Various collections from across time, around the world personally eyed by Hamada on display.
  • The building itself is a relic, an old house from the late Edo period.
  • The interior features various Western and Eastern influences.
  • The spacious garden is a perfect place for a walk with seasonal sights and flora.
  • The Museum Shop sells postcards, and books.

Photos

  • An imposing, and awe-inspiring large gate as an entrance.

    An imposing, and awe-inspiring large gate as an entrance.

  • It took a decade to relocate the late Edo period houses from Mashiko Town.

    It took a decade to relocate the late Edo period houses from Mashiko Town.

  • A factory that used to be a pottery workshop from the early Meiji period.

    A factory that used to be a pottery workshop from the early Meiji period.

  • Shoji Hamada, Japan’s first living national treasure.

    Shoji Hamada, Japan’s first living national treasure.

Reviews

1
  • 夏婉欣

    原來是陶藝發源者的紀念館~館面積很大,要是喜歡陶瓷的人必遊的地方~

Details

Name in Japanese
濱田庄司記念益子参考館
Postal Code
321-4217
Address
3388 Mashiko, Mashikomachi, Hagagun, Tochigi
Telephone
0285-72-5300
Closed
Mondays (Following day if Monday is a holiday), New Year’s holiday
Business Hours
9:30am-5:00pm (Admission allowed until 4:30pm)
Admission
800yen
Directions
50 minute ride on Kanto Transportation Bus from JR Utsunomiya Station, and disembark at “Mashiko Sankokan Iriguchi” stop, walk 5 minutes.
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)