Quiet Reflections on a Feudal Past: Visiting Miyazaki City Sadowara Historical Museum

Introduction

In the northern reaches of Miyazaki City lies the historic town of Sadowara, once the seat of the Sadowara Domain governed by a branch of the powerful Shimazu family. Today, the Miyazaki City Sadowara Historical Museum preserves and shares this legacy through two distinctive facilities that offer a serene and meaningful encounter with local history.

Main Content

Two Buildings, One Story

The museum comprises two historically significant sites:

Kakushoukan (opened in 1993), a reconstructed residence based on the Sadowara Castle Ninomaru Palace (secondary compound residence).
Former Sakamoto Merchant House (opened in 2001), a preserved Meiji-era merchant’s home once used for miso and soy sauce production.
Note: The Sadowara Archaeological Cultural Property Center, opened in 1995, was closed in 2017.

Kakushoukan

Sadowara Castle was decommissioned in 1869 when the Shimazu lords moved their residence. Excavations in 1989 uncovered postholes, drainage channels, and stonework, which became the basis for reconstructing the castle’s Ninomaru Palace (secondary compound residence).
The resulting Kakushoukan features a recreated reception hall where feudal lords once met emissaries, and an adjacent chamber housing a remarkable collection of folding screens, armor, and hanging scrolls from the Sadowara Shimazu family. A gallery also highlights Sadowara dolls.
The Shoin, or study area, displays the historical development of Sadowara from ancient to modern times in an accessible, educational format.

Former Sakamoto Merchant House (Currently Closed)

This wooden, tiled-roof building was constructed in 1905 by the Sakamoto family, local brewers and merchants. The home exemplifies the hirairi (side-entrance) style with a two-layer hip-and-gable roof, a rare surviving example of merchant district architecture in Sadowara.
Designated as a tangible cultural property by the City of Miyazaki, it reflects the economic activity of the region after the feudal era.
Inside, the first floor recreates a traditional accounting office with desks and coin box, while the second floor exhibits trade documents, tools, and vintage photographs that portray daily life and commerce in Sadowara’s merchant town.

Visitor Information & Manners

• No shoes inside.

• No food, drink, or outside refreshments allowed.

• Photography of exhibits is prohibited.

• No pets permitted.

• No foreign language interpreters available.

Conclusion

The Miyazaki City Sadowara Historical Museum is not just a historical site—it is a quiet cultural retreat where the rhythm of a former domain still echoes. Through elegant reconstructions and preserved artifacts, visitors can experience a more intimate, grounded understanding of local life in Japan’s past. For the thoughtful traveler seeking heritage beyond the well-trodden path, this is a hidden gem worth discovering.