Naito Memorial Museum is a historical museum in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture. It preserves and exhibits cultural properties and historical materials associated with the Naito family, who served as lords of the Nobeoka Domain. The museum has a long history of introducing the region’s heritage and is now known as Nobeoka Castle and Naito Memorial Museum.
The original Naito Memorial Museum opened in 1963 and served for many years as an important facility introducing the history and culture of Nobeoka City. Its collection included valuable cultural properties donated by the Naito family, as well as archaeological materials excavated locally and objects documenting traditional local life. These collections provide important insights into the history and culture of the Nobeoka area.
The museum received a number of important cultural properties from the Naito family over several decades. In 1983, the family donated 263 items, including weapons and Noh masks. In 1986, a further 50 works of calligraphy and painting were donated. In 2014, the museum received more than 100 additional items, including fine artworks, crafts, and historical documents.
These donations have made the museum an important place to discover Japan’s traditional arts, historical heritage, and the cultural legacy of the Naito family.
Among the museum’s particularly notable holdings are 72 items related to Noh theater, including 30 Noh masks bearing the stamped mark “Tenkaichi,” meaning “the best in the land.” These masks and related materials are displayed in conjunction with Tenkaichi Takigi Noh, an annual outdoor Noh performance held in autumn.
The Naito family had a deep connection with Noh theater, and the event helps preserve and pass on this tradition. It attracts many enthusiasts of Noh and traditional Japanese performing arts.
Naito Memorial Museum has also played an important role in the preservation of cultural properties in Nobeoka City. The office of the Cultural Properties Division of the Nobeoka City Board of Education is located within the museum, where work is carried out to protect and manage the region’s cultural heritage.
In 1998, Shiroyama Park, which includes the museum grounds, was designated a Nobeoka City cultural property under the name Nobeoka Castle Ruins, recognizing the area’s historical significance.
The former Naito Memorial Museum closed at the end of March 2017. Reconstruction work began in fiscal year 2019, and the new museum building was completed in 2021. On September 23, 2022, it reopened under the name Nobeoka Castle and Naito Memorial Museum.
The new facility offers expanded exhibition space and introduces a wider range of historical and cultural materials, providing visitors with new opportunities to discover the region’s heritage.
The new museum was built on the former site of Nobeoka Castle’s Nishinomaru, or western bailey, where the lord’s residence once stood. This location reflects the close relationship between the history of the castle and that of the museum.
By visiting the museum, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of Nobeoka Castle, the history of the Naito family, and the historical background of the surrounding region.
Nobeoka Castle and Naito Memorial Museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed every Monday and from December 29 through January 3.
Admission to the museum is free, making it easy for visitors to explore the history and culture of Nobeoka without an entrance fee.
The museum is located at 255-1 Tenjin-koji, Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture.
From JR Nobeoka Station on the Nippo Main Line, take a bus for approximately seven minutes and get off at Shiyakusho-mae (City Hall). The museum is then about a 10-minute walk away. Parking is also available nearby for visitors arriving by car.
Several sightseeing destinations are located around the museum, including the Nobeoka Castle Ruins and Shiroyama Park. Visiting these places together provides an opportunity to explore both the history and natural surroundings of Nobeoka City.
Naito Memorial Museum is an important place to learn about the history and culture of Nobeoka City. Its collection includes many cultural properties donated by the Naito family, as well as valuable materials related to Noh theater and traditional Japanese performing arts.
The newly opened Nobeoka Castle and Naito Memorial Museum offers an expanded range of exhibitions and a renewed opportunity to discover the region’s past. When visiting Nobeoka City, take time to explore the museum and experience the history and culture preserved here.