Establishment of the Museum
The project to establish the museum began with the formation of the Karuizawa Town Special Committee for the Construction of a History and Folklore Museum in March 1979. Later that year, a research committee was established to investigate and preserve the history of Oiwake-juku.
After years of research and preparation, the museum officially opened in 1985 as a facility established in accordance with Japan’s Museum Act. Its exhibitions continue to preserve the historical legacy of Oiwake and introduce it to both local residents and visitors.
Permanent Exhibitions on Oiwake-juku
The museum’s permanent exhibitions focus on Oiwake-juku, the 20th post station of the 69 stations along the Nakasendo. Exhibits cover the area’s development from ancient times through the modern era.
The Dawn of Oiwake
The section titled “The Dawn of Oiwake” introduces the development of the area from ancient times through the medieval period. It provides a historical background for understanding why Oiwake became an important settlement and transportation hub.
The New Oiwake
The “New Oiwake” exhibition focuses on the town’s modern history and transformation. Together, the exhibits allow visitors to trace the changes that took place as Oiwake evolved from a traditional post town into part of modern-day Karuizawa.
A Recreated Edo-Period Inn
One of the museum’s highlights is a scale reconstruction of part of a traditional hatago, the inns that accommodated travelers during the Edo period. The recreated interior gives visitors a glimpse of what staying at a busy post town along the Nakasendo would have been like.
The museum also displays the 550-volume Daihannya-kyo Buddhist scripture collection, designated as a cultural property by Karuizawa Town. This remarkable collection provides an insight into the religious and cultural traditions that developed alongside the post town.
Literature and the Cultural Heritage of Oiwake
The museum has a library containing approximately 2,700 books related to Oiwake-juku, including historical research and literary works. These materials are valuable resources for understanding the area’s cultural and literary heritage.
Visitors can also see works by Kokaku Inagaki, a calligrapher from the local area. His work adds an artistic dimension to the museum’s exploration of Oiwake’s cultural history.
Oiwake-juku: Where Two Historic Roads Meet
Oiwake-juku was the 20th post station from Edo on the Nakasendo. It was also located at the junction where the Nakasendo branched toward the Hokkoku Kaido, the historic route leading toward the Sea of Japan and the Hokuriku region.
The name Oiwake is traditionally associated with this division or branching of routes. Its strategic location made the post town an important center for travelers, merchants, and people moving between eastern and western Japan.
The Prosperity of Oiwake in the Edo Period
Historical records from the Genroku era indicate that Oiwake-juku had approximately 71 inns, 18 teahouses, and 28 shops. At its peak, as many as 200 to 270 female entertainers known as meshimori onna are said to have lived and worked in the post town.
The large number of establishments reflects the lively atmosphere of Oiwake during its heyday. Its importance as a transportation junction helped create a flourishing culture of lodging, commerce, entertainment, and travel.
The Oiwake-bushi Folk Song and Literary Heritage
Oiwake is also known as the birthplace of Oiwake-bushi, a traditional Japanese folk song. The song represents an important part of the region’s musical heritage and reflects the lively culture that developed along the old highway.
Oiwake also attracted numerous writers and poets. Aburaya, formerly an auxiliary honjin inn, became a favorite gathering place for literary figures including Tatsuo Hori, Michizo Tachihara, and Saisei Murō. Oiwake and its surroundings appear in literary works such as Nahoko and Furusato-bito.
Historic and Literary Sights Around Oiwake-juku
Aburaya
Once an auxiliary honjin for important travelers, Aburaya has been preserved and revitalized as the cultural facility Shinano Oiwake Bunka Jiba Aburaya. It also contains a reference room dedicated to Tatsuo Hori.
Tatsuo Hori Memorial Museum
This literary museum commemorates the life and work of writer Tatsuo Hori. Its entrance gate was relocated from the rear gate of the former honjin, adding an authentic historical element to the site.
Historic Monuments and Roadside Heritage
Throughout Oiwake-juku, visitors can encounter historic markers and remnants of the old highway, including the Monument at Wakare-sore, the Zenkoji Temple Night Lantern, and an old ichirizuka milestone mound.
Sendoji Temple
Sendoji Temple is associated with local religious traditions and literary heritage. The temple grounds feature the famous Toothache Jizo and a monument commemorating the work of Kokaku Inagaki.
Access to the Museum
The nearest major railway station is Naka-Karuizawa Station on the Shinano Railway. From there, the westbound town circulation bus can be used to reach the Oiwake area via Shinano-Oiwake Station.
Depending on the stop, the journey takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Stops serving the area include Oiwake Iriguchi, Oiwake Kominkan, and Oiwake Shoshinbashi.
Experience the Historic Side of Karuizawa
The Oiwake-juku Folk Museum offers a fascinating look at a side of Karuizawa that is easy to overlook amid the area’s modern resorts and summer villas. Its exhibitions reveal how travelers once moved along the Nakasendo, how post-town life developed, and how literature, music, religion, and commerce became intertwined in Oiwake.
For travelers interested in Japanese history, traditional roads, literature, and local culture, the museum provides an ideal starting point for exploring Oiwake-juku and the historic streets and sites that surround it.