Tokushima City Tokushima Castle Museum
徳島市立徳島城博物館
Located in Tokushima Central Park on the former castle grounds, this shoin-zukuri style museum houses historical materials related to the Tokushima Domain and its ruling Hachisuka clan.
Closed on Mondays
Tokushima City Tokushima Castle Museum is located within Tokushima Central Park, on the former grounds of Tokushima Castle in the heart of Tokushima city. Opened in October 1992, the museum was established to collect, preserve, and display historical, fine art, and craft materials relating to the Tokushima Domain and its ruling Hachisuka clan, who governed the region throughout the Edo period. The building itself is designed in a shoin-zukuri style, evoking the architecture of an Edo-period palace, in keeping with its location on the site of the former castle palace complex.
The permanent exhibition is organised across multiple rooms covering five themes: the history of domain governance, the life and culture of the domain lord, the layout and structure of the castle, everyday life in the castle town, and the activities of the Awa Navy. Among the highlights of the collection is the Senzan-maru, a ceremonial whale boat of the Tokushima Domain constructed in 1857 during the late Edo period. Designated a National Important Cultural Property, it is considered one of the oldest surviving traditional Japanese wooden vessels. Also on permanent display is a highly detailed 1:50 scale restoration model of the Tokushima Castle palace complex, offering visitors a rare impression of how the original structures would have appeared. Permanent Exhibition Room 2, "The Life and Culture of the Domain Lord", is dedicated to the fine art and craft works of the Hachisuka clan.
In addition to the permanent collection, the museum holds six special and themed exhibitions per year and hosts a variety of educational events and programs throughout the year. Visitors to the museum can also access the adjacent Former castle, a stroll garden in the Momoyama style designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty, viewable from the museum lobby.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:30. It is closed on Mondays, the day following public holidays, and during the year-end and New Year period.
