* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Takaoka-no-Mori Hirosaki Clan History Museum
高岡の森弘前藩歴史館
Overview
The Takaoka-no-Mori Hirosaki Clan History Museum is a municipal museum of Hirosaki City that opened in April 2018 (Heisei 30). It is a specialized museum centered on the former collections of the Tsugaru family, the lords of the Hirosaki Domain. Built adjacent to Takateru Shrine at the foot of Mount Iwaki, it holds approximately 5,300 items, including treasures that had been offered to Takateru Shrine.
Important Cultural Property: Tachi Signed “Tomonari saku”
The museum's most important holding is the Important Cultural Property tachi signed “Tomonari saku,” owned by Takateru Shrine and deposited at the museum. Tomonari was a swordsmith of Bizen Province in the Heian period and is regarded as one of the outstanding masters of Ko-Bizen. This tachi is said to have been received by Tsugaru Tamenobu, the first lord of the Hirosaki Domain, from Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It is also of exceptional historical value as a record of the political circumstances from the Sengoku period to the early Edo period. Examples of Tomonari's blades surviving in good condition to the present day are rare nationwide, making this an important physical resource for the study of Japanese sword history.
Treasures of Takateru Shrine
The Tsugaru family was a daimyo family that ruled the Hirosaki Domain (in present-day western Aomori Prefecture). The museum holds belongings of Tsugaru Nobumasa, the 4th lord; votive pictures (ema) dedicated by successive lords; and weapons and swords that the Tsugaru family and former retainers offered to Takateru Shrine during the Meiji period. The museum changes its displays several times a year according to themes.
Public Display of Important Cultural Property Tachi
The Important Cultural Property tachi signed “Tomonari saku” and the tachi signed “Sanemori” (both owned by Takateru Shrine) are not on permanent display. They are shown during the period of a special exhibition set for each fiscal year. In fiscal 2026, the special exhibition is “Swords of the Hirosaki Domain,” running from April 3 to May 31.
Highlights
- Important Cultural Property tachi signed “Tomonari saku” (owned by Takateru Shrine, deposited at the museum) ── A treasure of Heian-period Bizen blades, said to have been received by Tsugaru Tamenobu from Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Surviving examples of Tomonari's blades are rare nationwide and are essential reference material for the study of Japanese sword history
- Treasures of Takateru Shrine ── Approximately 5,300 items, including belongings of Tsugaru Nobumasa, the 4th lord, and weapons and swords that the Tsugaru family and former retainers offered to Takateru Shrine during the Meiji period; displays are changed by theme
- Two Important Cultural Property tachi ── The tachi signed “Tomonari saku” and the tachi signed “Sanemori” (both owned by Takateru Shrine) are shown during the special exhibition held each fiscal year (fiscal 2026: special exhibition “Swords of the Hirosaki Domain”)
* Opening hours and exhibitions are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.