Edo Period: The Timeless Charm of the Toyohashi City Futagawa Shuku Honjin Museum

Introduction

Tucked away in the city of Toyohashi, Aichi prefecture, The Toyohashi City Futagawa Shuku Honjin Museum offers a rare window into Japan during Edo Period.

The historic post station town is the only place in Japan where three original structures from Edo Period remain intact. There is a Honjin, a Hatagoya and a Shoka. The Honjin was an inn for high-ranking officials. The Hatagoya was an inn for commoners and Shoka was a merchant’s family house.

A Historic Trio in Harmony

The museum preserves three extraordinary historic buildings.

• Honjin – where court nobility, high-ranking samurai and daimyo (feudal lords) once stayed.

• Hatagoya “Seimeiya” – an inn for  commoners.

• Shoka “Komaya” – a preserved merchant’s house that now hosts cultural events and exhibitions.

📷 Photo: Honjin Front Gate

The Honjin

Once exclusive to elite travelers, the Honjin features tatami rooms, sliding doors, and a formal architectural style that reflects the dignity of its guests. A walk through its silent halls evokes the presence of past lords.

📷 Photo: Historic Travel Route Scene

Hatagoya “Seimeiya”

More modest in design but full of charm, the Hatagoya “ Seimeiya” reveals how travelers during Edo Period spent their nights. The preserved wooden beams and smaller, narrower rooms are in contrast to the luxurious Honjin next door.

📷 Photo: Seimeiya

Shoka “Komaya”

A short walk away, the Shoka “Komaya” presents the lifestyle of an Edo-period merchant. Its tea room, warehouse and shopfront tell the story of daily life and commerce. Admission is free, making it an ideal stop for casual exploration.

📷 Photo: Komaya

Cultural Events and Hands-On Experiences

Don’t miss the annual Hina-matsuri (Girls’ Doll Festival) in February-March and the Boys’ Festival Doll Exhibition in April-May.

The museum also offers a year-round Ukiyo-e Printing Experience, where visitors can try to make traditional Japanese prints by themselves.

Girls’ Doll Festival

Boys’ Festival Doll Exhibition

Ukiyo-e

Ukiyo-e Printing Experience

In Conclusion

Toyohashi City Futagawa Shuku Honjin Museum offers elegance, authenticity, and vivid connection to the past to international travelers seeking an enriching cultural journey.

Step into the past and discover a more relaxed and elegant way of traveling.

📍 Address

Toyohashi City Futagawa Shuku Honjin Museum

65 Naka-machi, Futagawa-cho, Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture

441-3155 Japan