A Gateway to the Region’s Heritage
Located near the approach to Kongōrin-ji Temple, one of the three temples of the Kotō Sanzan, the Aishō Town Museum of History and Culture is a comprehensive museum offering both discovery and inspiration.
Inside, visitors encounter Buddhist art and historical treasures connected to Kongōrin-ji, including a replica of the Gilt Bronze Seated Shō-Kannon Statue from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and a bonshō temple bell (138 cm tall, 600 kg) designated as a Cultural Property of Shiga Prefecture.
Permanent exhibitions trace the cultural life of the region, from craftworks from the Heian to Muromachi periods to komainu guardian dogs and elaborately decorated hikiyama festival floats.
Archaeological displays shed light on the Echi Hata clan, a migrant people who developed the area in ancient times, and link their story to tumuli and other archaeological remains across the town.
The museum complex comprises two halls—the Izanai-no-Yakata Exhibition Hall and the Inishie-no-Yakata Administration Hall—connected by a corridor facing the Gyokusuien Garden.
This traditional Japanese garden unfolds its beauty with cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, and fiery foliage in autumn.
Within the grounds stands an authentic Noh stage, where every Golden Week the “Spring Performing Arts Festival” presents Noh—Japan’s classical performing art that blends drama, music, and dance— along with musical performances by local children.
Blending history, art, and community, the museum is more than an exhibition space—it is a living cultural hub of Aishō.
