Kiyosu City Nishibiwajima Tonya Memorial Museum

Overview

The Kiyosu City Nishibiwajima Tonya Memorial Museum is a memorial hall in Kiyosu City, Aichi Prefecture. The Biwajima market once held here is said to have ranked as one of the Three Great Markets of Japan, alongside Kanda in Edo and Tenma in Osaka. The museum preserves the memory of a wholesale-merchant town that flourished on the produce trade, making it an essential stop for anyone interested in the history of Japan's market culture.

Highlights

• ●A memorial museum tied to the Biwajima market, ranked among Japan's Three Great Markets
• ●A logistics history spoken of alongside Edo's Kanda and Osaka's Tenma
• ●Exhibits conveying the memory of Nishibiwajima's flourishing wholesale district
• ●A location close to urban Nagoya, easy to drop by

History

In Nishibiwajima, a produce market that continued from the Edo period grew so lively that it was counted among the Three Great Markets of Japan, together with Edo's Kanda market and Osaka's Tenma market. This memorial museum was established to convey the history of a town lined with wholesale merchants (tonya). For a detailed account of the market and the wholesale district, it is best to consult the exhibits inside and the official information of Kiyosu City.

Map

35.1933, 136.8621 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head to the museum from a station such as Meitetsu Nishibiwajima
2. 2Learn about the history of the Biwajima market and the wholesale town inside
3. 3Walk the remaining streets of the former market town to imagine days gone by
4. 4Move on to nearby central Nagoya and enjoy the day with the castle and downtown sights

Did you know?

💡 The fact that the Biwajima market was named alongside Kanda in Edo and Tenma in Osaka speaks to the importance of Nishibiwajima in the logistics history of the Nagoya region. Knowing that one of Japan's leading markets once stood within what is now a quiet townscape makes each of the museum's exhibits all the more intriguing.

Nearby spots