* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Yamaguchi Prefectural Hagi Museum – Urakami Memorial Hall
山口県立萩美術館・浦上記念館
Overview
Museum Overview
The Yamaguchi Prefectural Hagi Museum – Urakami Memorial Hall is a prefectural museum located in Hagi, a castle town facing the Sea of Japan, and opened in 1996 (Heisei 8). The 'Urakami Memorial Hall' name derives from businessman Toshiro Urakami's donation to Hagi of his long-accumulated collections of Japanese and East Asian ceramics and ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Building on this core collection, it developed as a comprehensive art museum operated by Yamaguchi Prefecture, and today serves as a facility that holistically presents Yamaguchi's traditional culture—including swords, armor, textiles, and calligraphy and painting. Located within the historic Hagi castle town, it is a unique facility that combines Mori clan and Choshu domain cultural heritage with contemporary art.
The Urakami Collection – Ukiyo-e and East Asian Ceramics
The ukiyo-e collection at the heart of the Urakami Collection is one of Japan's finest, including works by major Edo period masters such as Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Toshusai Sharaku. Ukiyo-e, which traveled to Europe in the 18th–19th centuries and profoundly influenced Impressionist painters as the source of 'Japonisme,' draws international attention as a venue where one can systematically view the original artistry of this tradition within Japan. East Asian ceramics likewise comprise fine pieces from China, Korea, and Japan, holding an important place in the history of ceramics.
Sword and Armor Collection
The Yamaguchi Prefectural Hagi Museum – Urakami Memorial Hall places particular emphasis on displaying swords and armor related to the samurai culture of Hagi domain (Choshu). The samurai culture of Choshu domain under the Mori clan holds special prestige within Japanese bushido, and the collection includes swords used and owned by Choshu samurai who played a central role in the anti-shogunate movement of the late Edo period. Swords donated and entrusted by shrines and historic families throughout Yamaguchi Prefecture are also displayed, providing valuable coverage of sword culture across the Chugoku region. The collection includes works by Chugoku region sword makers influenced by the Bizen and Soshu traditions, offering important research materials for studying regional sword smithing.
The Cultural Significance of Hagi
Hagi flourished throughout the Edo period as the castle town of Choshu domain under the Mori clan, and in the late Edo period it produced many architects of the Meiji Restoration, including Yoshida Shoin, Takasugi Shinsaku, Ito Hirobumi, and Kido Takayoshi. The museum located here transcends a mere display facility, serving as a witness to the history and culture of a region that drove Japan's modernization. Visiting it alongside Shoka Sonjuku, Hagi Castle ruins, and Hagi's castle town (a UNESCO World Heritage site) allows one to fully appreciate the historical depth of Hagi.
Facilities and Special Exhibitions
The building is architecturally designed to respect the historic Hagi castle town landscape, with white walls and tile roofing that blend seamlessly with the surrounding townscape. Throughout the year, multiple special exhibitions are held, with rotating thematic displays focused on ukiyo-e, ceramics, and swords. Special sword exhibitions featuring Choshu domain heritage offer compelling content for late Edo period history enthusiasts, and the museum's distinctive approach of linking local history with sword culture is widely praised. Serving as a tourism hub for the Nagato–Hagi area of the San'in region, the museum welcomes visitors from throughout Japan and abroad.
Highlights
- Urakami Collection Ukiyo-e — One of Japan's premier collections of woodblock prints, including works by Utamaro, Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Sharaku. Enables systematic appreciation of the finest examples of Edo woodblock art that became the source of Japonisme.
- Oriental Ceramics Collection — Fine ceramics from China, Korea, and Japan. Brings together important works in ceramic art history, selected through the discerning eye of the Urakami family.
- Historic Hagi Castle Town, a World Heritage Site — Museum located in an area with deep connections to Yoshida Shoin and Takasugi Shinsaku. Offers integrated historical tourism with Shoka Sonjuku and Hagi Castle ruins.
* Opening hours and exhibitions are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.