Kawara Museum

Overview

The Kawara Museum (Omihachiman City Rooftile Museum) is an unusual municipal museum devoted entirely to the Japanese roof tile, or kawara. Opened in 1995 and designed by architect Kan Izue, the building itself makes striking use of tiles to embody the very theme it celebrates. Omihachiman once flourished as a center for Hachiman roof tiles, and the museum shares the history, craft, and beauty of this tradition in the very town that made it famous.

Highlights

• ●A rare municipal museum devoted to the roof tile
• ●A tile-rich building designed by architect Kan Izue
• ●Exhibits sharing the craft culture of Hachiman tile-making
• ●A setting within the historic Hachimanbori district

History

The museum was established by the city of Omihachiman in 1995. Its name comes from kawara, the traditional Japanese roof tile, and it serves to preserve the memory of the Hachiman tile industry that once thrived here. The building was designed by architect Kan Izue, whose generous use of tile makes the structure part of the exhibition experience itself.

Map

35.1406, 136.0919 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head from JR Omihachiman Station to the historic district
2. 2Explore the history and craft of roof tiles at the Kawara Museum
3. 3Stroll the old townscape along the Hachimanbori canal
4. 4Return to the station while enjoying the waterside scenery

Did you know?

💡 The kawara that gives the museum its name has long been essential to Japanese architecture, adorning the roofs of temples, shrines, and castles. In Omihachiman, tile-making skill extended beyond roofing to decorative tiles, carrying the region's craft culture into the present.

Nearby spots