Kabeya Shuseikan Museum is located in Okuizumo Town, Shimane Prefecture, and introduces the history, culture, and craftsmanship passed down through the Sakurai family, a prominent family that prospered through traditional tatara ironmaking. The museum opened in 1983 and serves as an important cultural facility preserving the history of Okuizumo for future generations.
The name “Kabeya” was the family name used by the Sakurai family during the Edo period, when they operated tatara ironmaking facilities. The family held the important position of Chief Ironmaster under the Matsue Domain, overseeing the region’s ironmaking industry. The museum offers visitors an opportunity to discover the technology, culture, and way of life that developed around this traditional industry.
The museum houses and displays approximately 4,500 valuable objects passed down through generations of the Sakurai family. The collection includes samurai armor and weapons, household furnishings, artworks, traditional crafts, historical documents, and tools associated with tatara ironmaking.
These materials provide a detailed look at how traditional iron was produced, the technological skills involved, and the important role that ironmaking played in the development of the local community.
Tatara ironmaking is a traditional Japanese ironmaking technique that uses iron sand as its raw material. The process played an important role in producing tamahagane, a high-quality steel traditionally used in Japanese swordmaking.
Through the museum’s exhibits, visitors can learn how Okuizumo developed into one of Japan’s important iron-producing regions and how the iron industry influenced the area’s economy, society, and culture.
The Sakurai family is traditionally regarded as descendants of the Sengoku-period warrior Ban Dan’emon. After an ancestor was killed during the Siege of Osaka in 1615, the family began ironmaking in Kabe Village in Hiroshima.
In 1644, the family’s third-generation head, Naoshige, moved to Kami-Ai in Okuizumo. There, the family began operating tatara ironmaking on a larger scale.
Operating under the name Kabeya, the Sakurai family became known for producing high-quality iron known as “Kikuichi”. Their iron was highly regarded by the skilled craftsmen of Kunitomo, one of Japan’s renowned centers of firearms manufacturing.
As the family’s reputation grew, the Matsue Domain entrusted them with important responsibilities. The Sakurai family was eventually appointed Chief Ironmaster, placing them at the center of the iron industry that supported the economy of Okuizumo.
The history of their prosperity and influence can still be traced through the documents and objects preserved at Kabeya Shuseikan Museum.
One of the special features of Kabeya Shuseikan Museum is its location next to the Sakurai Family Residence. Combining the museum with the historic residence allows visitors to experience both the family’s history and the traditional architecture associated with the tatara industry.
The residence was built in 1738 and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The extensive grounds include the main house, storehouses, gates, and rooms built in the traditional shoin-zukuri style.
The residence was also used as an official lodging place when lords of the Matsue Domain traveled through the area for inspections. Several generations of Matsue lords visited the residence, reflecting the important position held by the Sakurai family.
The garden of the Sakurai Family Residence is designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty. Visiting the garden together with the museum provides a deeper appreciation of the relationship between history, architecture, and nature in Okuizumo.
The garden was developed in preparation for the visit of Matsudaira Harusato, the seventh lord of the Matsue Domain, who was also known by his tea-master name Fumai. The waterfall within the garden was named “Iwanami” by Fumai.
Water flows dramatically yet gracefully over the exposed rocks, creating a beautiful landscape that changes throughout the year.
Many maple trees grow around the garden, providing fresh green foliage in spring, deep green leaves in summer, and brilliant autumn colors. The garden is particularly popular during the autumn foliage season, when the historic buildings and colorful trees create an impressive scene.
The Sakurai family residence also welcomed a number of cultural figures. Among them was the renowned Nanga painter Tanomura Chikuden, who stayed in the area during the Meiji period and left behind numerous works.
A small rustic retreat where he is said to have spent time remains within the garden. The quiet setting offers a glimpse into the environment in which artists observed nature and found inspiration for their work.
For visitors interested in Japanese art and traditional culture, this peaceful combination of art, history, architecture, and nature offers a particularly memorable experience.
Kabeya Shuseikan Museum and the surrounding Sakurai family property form part of the Cultural Landscape of Tatara Ironmaking and Rice Terraces in Okuizumo, which has been selected by the Japanese government as an important cultural landscape.
This recognition reflects the way the natural environment and generations of human activity have shaped the distinctive landscape of Okuizumo. The mountains, rice terraces, settlements, and former ironmaking sites together tell the story of how people adapted to and made use of the region’s natural resources.
The historic buildings were initially designated as tangible cultural properties by Shimane Prefecture, and some were subsequently designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. In 2017, the garden was also formally designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty, further highlighting the cultural importance of the site.
Kabeya Shuseikan Museum is approximately 20 minutes by car from Izumo-Mizunari Station on the JR Kisuki Line.
Surrounded by the mountains of Okuizumo, the museum stands in a quiet setting where visitors can take their time exploring the history of tatara ironmaking and the Sakurai family.
Kabeya Shuseikan Museum offers a fascinating introduction to tatara ironmaking, one of Japan’s distinctive traditional technologies, and to the people whose lives and fortunes were closely connected with the iron industry.
The museum’s collection of approximately 4,500 historical objects provides valuable insight into ironmaking technology, samurai culture, traditional crafts, and everyday life in the region.
By visiting the museum together with the neighboring Sakurai Family Residence and its National Place of Scenic Beauty garden, travelers can gain a broader understanding of Okuizumo’s history, culture, and natural environment.
In this peaceful mountain setting, the traditions of iron, family, art, and landscape come together to create a unique cultural experience that connects the history of Okuizumo with the present day.