Seto Inland Sea Folk History Museum

Special Exhibition | August 4, 2026

The buildings are arranged in a stepped fashion to follow the slope of the land. Inspired by a pirate's castle, the exhibition rooms, based on an 8-meter square floor plan with sides measuring up to 24 meters, are built surrounding a central courtyard. Photo courtesy of Seto Inland Sea Folk History Museum
Under the direction of stonemason Masatoshi Izumi, who worked on the works of sculptor Isamu Noguchi, stonemasons stacked andesite stones to create a magnificent structure that blends seamlessly into the landscape of the Seto Inland Sea. Photo courtesy of Seto Inland Sea Folk History Museum
The museum features exhibits that convey the history and lifestyle of the people who live in the Seto Inland Sea, including displays of various types of wooden boats that once traveled the sea. Photo courtesy of Seto Inland Sea Folk History Museum

A fortress-like museum nestled on a mountain overlooking the Seto Inland Sea

The Takamatsu Historical and Folk Museum is located on Goshikidai, a plateau overlooking the Seto Inland Sea in western Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. It is one of the earliest examples of a comprehensive local historical and folk museum equipped with various research and study functions. The facility, which offers a panoramic view of the sea from its elevated position, was designed by Tadashi Yamamoto, head of the Civil Engineering Department's Architecture Division, who led the realization of many of Kagawa's most famous architectural works. In this castle-like building that blends seamlessly with the terrain, visitors can enjoy the exhibits by strolling through multiple exhibition rooms arranged around a central courtyard. The exhibition rooms and other rooms within the museum are positioned in various ways, offset vertically and horizontally to conform to the topography. Large openings are provided throughout, sometimes allowing visitors to step into the outside space, creating a dynamic and open exhibition environment. Locally quarried stone and other materials are used in the exterior to harmonize with the surrounding landscape.

Seto Inland Sea Folk History Museum
・Architect : Tadashi Yamamoto
・Location : 1412-2 Tarumicho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture
・Use : Museum
・Completed : 1973

Text: Yoshinao Yamada