Nagahama Castle History Museum

Nagahama Castle History Museum is a municipal history museum located in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. It utilizes a reconstructed castle building on the site of the original Nagahama Castle, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi served as his first castle-holding daimyo, as the facility (reconstructed in 1983 through the dedication of local citizens). The museum functions as a leading history museum in northern Shiga Prefecture, presenting comprehensive exhibitions of the history, art, folklore, and archaeology of the Ōmi Kohoku region, centered on the histories of Hideyoshi, Asai Nagamasa, Ishida Mitsunari, and other Sengoku warlords connected to Nagahama.

From the perspective of Japanese swords and armor, the museum is particularly noteworthy for its historical connection to the ōdaichi (large-sword) collection of Magara Naotaka, a fiercest warrior of the strongest class of the Sengoku era. Magara Naotaka was a commander in the Asakura army who participated in the Battle of Anegawa (1570) and is remembered as a legendary warrior of the Sengoku period known to have wielded an ōdaichi exceeding 220 cm in length. Nagahama Castle History Museum features special exhibitions of ōdaichi swords connected to the Magara family, including those housed at Shirayama Hime Shrine (blade length approximately 186.5 cm), and is known as a display that gives visitors great impact, showcasing some of Japan's largest practical combat blades.

Furthermore, the museum possesses a diverse collection of artifacts representing the legacy of warlord culture accumulated during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's tenure as lord of Nagahama Castle (1573–1583), including armor, historical documents, and paintings. It also houses important materials such as the Battle of Shizugatake Screen Painting, and is highly regarded as a facility where visitors can comprehensively study armor and sword culture within the historical context of Sengoku battles staged in northern Ōmi, including the Battle of Shizugatake (1583), Battle of Anegawa (1570), and the siege of Odani Castle.

The reconstructed castle, situated on the shores of Lake Biwa, combines spectacular views of the lake, and as a tourist destination possesses high appeal. Its exceptional accessibility—just a 7-minute walk from JR Nagahama Station—combined with nearby attractions such as Kurogane Square and Nagahama city center attractions, has become a standard pairing.