Japan Guide
Northern Honshū
Northern Cultural Museum
The fertile plains around Niigata supported a number of wealthy landowners who lived in considerable luxury until the Land Reform Act of 1946 forced them to sell all rice land above 7.5 acres per household. One such was the Itō family, whose superb mansion, now the centrepiece of the Northern Cultural Museum, or Kitakata Bunka Hakubutsukan, is the largest and most accessible of several such houses around Niigata. The huge house was erected in 1887 and comprises sixty rooms containing family heirlooms, but the classic garden steals the show – viewed from inside, it forms a magnificent frieze along one side of the principal guest room. The museum is located in Yokogoshi village, 12km southeast of the city centre, and can be reached by express bus from Bandai City or the Eki-mae terminal by Niigata Station (8 daily; ¥500 one way, or ¥1570 return including entry ticket); the last bus back leaves at around 5.20pm. Opening time: Daily 9am–4.30/5pmPrice: ¥700