Azai Folk History Museum 浅井歴史民俗資料館(お市の里)

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Azai Folk History Museum 浅井歴史民俗資料館(お市の里)

Sign for Oichi-no-Sato, a complex consisting of a public library and folk history museums. Named after Ichi, the wife of Lord Azai Nagamasa who resided at Odani Castle. She was also the younger sister of warlord Oda Nobunaga.

Oichi or Ichi (1547–1583) gave birth to three daughters who associated with famous men. They were Chacha (Toyotomi Hideyoshi's concubine), Hatsu (married Kyogoku Takatsugu), and Ogo (married Tokugawa Hidetada).

Map of Oichi-no-Sato. The biggest building on the left is the Azai Public Library. If you don't have a car, catch the Kokoku Bus (Takayama Route) at Nagahama Station and get off at Plaza Fukura no Mori-mae (プラザふくらの森前). Walk 10 min.

Oichi-no-Sato includes Azai Public Library on the left. Its entrance looks like a castle gate. Address: Oyoricho 528, Nagahama. 大依町 Phone: 0749-74-0101 浅井図書館

Walk past the library and you come to the gate of the Azai Folk History Museum. Admission 300 yen. Open 9 am to 5 pm, closed Mon. (open if a national holiday) and the day after a national holiday.

On the left is this modern structure called the Folk Studies Museum or Kyodo Gakushu-kan. It centers on the history of Odani Castle and three generations of the Azai Clan. 郷土学習館

The Azai Folk History Museum (Azai Rekishi Minzoku Shiryokan) has two large thatched-roof houses. This one is called Itohime no Yakata which shows Azai's silk production history. 糸姫の館

Folk Studies Museum or Kyodo Gakushu-kan. It centers on the history of Odani Castle and three generations of the Azai Clan. 郷土学習館

Entrance to Folk Studies Museum.

This folding panel greets you with a portrait of Lord Azai Nagamasa and wife Ichi.

Model of Odani Castle on a mountaintop.

More exhibits about local history.

Portrait panels of Nagamasa, Ichi, and their three daughters.

Ichi or Oichi, wife of Azai Nagamasa.

Lord Azai Nagamasa

Map of the Battle of Anegawa where Lord Azai Nagamasa fought against Tokugawa Ieysau and Oda Nobunaga in 1570.

Second floor of the museum with a fake stone castle gate.

Relics from Odani Castle

Fan said to have belonged to Ichi.

Blacksmith-related materials.

Photo of an unusual ax.

In the middle is a garden with a pond. The thatched-roof house is Shichirinkan, a former blacksmith's house. 七りん館

Inside Shichirinkan, a former blacksmith's house from the 19th century. 七りん館

When I visited in Feb. 2009, there was an exhibit showing artifacts of a local Okonai Festival (held in various locations during Jan. to March to pray for a good harvest).