The Fujihashi Historical and Folklore Museum is located in Ibigawa Town, Ibi District, Gifu Prefecture. It consists of traditional wooden houses with thatched roofs relocated from the former Fujihashi Village. All five buildings were opened to the public in 1986. Each house has distinctive architectural features, and together with the exhibits of traditional household and work tools, they provide a valuable insight into life in a mountain village.
The museum is situated in the Tsurumi district, surrounded by lush greenery. Its most distinctive feature is a collection of five relocated and restored thatched-roof houses, some of which were built more than 250 years ago.
Each building has its own exhibition theme and displays objects that were actually used in everyday life. Visitors can explore the houses and learn about traditional lifestyles while enjoying the peaceful rural surroundings.
The Fujihashi Historical and Folklore Museum is one of the museums established by Ibigawa Town under Article 244-2 of Japan’s Local Autonomy Act. Its purpose is to preserve and display historical and ethnographic materials relating to the former Fujihashi Village.
The museum’s five thatched-roof houses originally stood in Fujihashi Village and date from the mid-Edo period through the mid-Meiji period. They were relocated and restored to reflect their original architectural condition.
During the latter half of the 1980s, plans to construct Tokuyama Dam and Sugihara Dam led to the gradual relocation of residents from Fujihashi Village. As a result, the number of vacant houses with traditional thatched roofs increased. To preserve these valuable buildings and the tools associated with village life, the village authorities planned to relocate the houses and establish a museum.
Three houses from the Tsurumi district were moved to the site, and the museum opened on July 27, 1984, under the name Fujihashi Village Historical and Folklore Museum. In 1986, one additional house from Tsurumi and another from the Yokoyama district were relocated, completing the five-building collection.
In 2005, the former Ibigawa Town merged with Tanigumi Village, Kuze Village, Kasuga Village, Sakauchi Village, and Fujihashi Village to form the new Ibigawa Town. Following the merger, the museum was renamed the Fujihashi Historical and Folklore Museum.
Building No. 3 was the former residence of the Miyagawa family, who served as village headmen. An inscription in the building’s timber records the year 1760, suggesting that the house was built before that date.
The exhibits mainly consist of traditional tools and household objects collected from homes in the Tsurumi and Higashi-Sugihara districts that were submerged by the construction of Tokuyama Dam and Sugihara Dam. Some of the collection is also displayed on the third floor of Fujihashi Castle.
Forestry tools: Equipment used for logging and other forestry work.
Woodturning tools and products: Objects associated with traditional woodcraft and woodturning.
Tools for making wooden shingles and thatched roofs: Equipment used in traditional roofing and building work.
Papermaking tools and products: Materials and equipment used in handmade paper production.
Blacksmithing and carpentry tools: Tools used by blacksmiths and carpenters.
Agricultural tools: Equipment used for farming and crop cultivation.
Sericulture tools: Objects associated with silkworm raising and silk production.
Spinning and weaving tools: Equipment used to process fibers and make textiles.
Handcraft tools and products: Tools and finished goods from traditional household crafts.
Hunting tools: Equipment used for hunting.
Fishing tools: Equipment used for catching fish.
Tools for collecting natural resources: Objects used to gather materials from the surrounding environment.
Transportation and carrying equipment: Tools and equipment used to move goods and materials.
Clothing and food-related tools: Household objects associated with clothing, food preparation, and daily living.
Tools for seasonal settlements: Objects used in temporary settlements away from the main village.
Measuring tools: Equipment used for measuring quantities and dimensions.
Religious and ceremonial objects: Items used in religious practices and traditional ceremonies.
The Fujihashi Historical and Folklore Museum offers a valuable opportunity to discover the history and culture of traditional mountain communities. By exploring the relocated thatched-roof houses and viewing the tools once used by local residents, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of how people lived and worked in the past.
For those seeking a peaceful escape from the bustle of modern cities, the museum combines cultural discovery with the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside.