A museum to learn about the history and daily life of Ōuchi-juku
The Ouchi-juku Pavilion (Ōuchi-juku Machinami Tenjikan) is a museum located at the heart of Ōuchi-juku , a popular historical town in Shimogō Town Fukushima Prefecture. It offers insights into the town’s history and traditional lifestyle.
The building is a reconstruction of an Edo-period honjin (a designated lodging for feudal lords during their sankin-kōtai travels). Its thatched roof, typical of the era, is one of its architectural highlights.
Inside, visitors will find displays that explain the development of Ōuchi-juku as a post town on the Aizu Nishi Kaidō (Aizu Nishikaidō, an old highway), as well as artifacts and tools used in daily life at the time. The museum also provides clear information about the structure of the post town, transportation functions, and regional traditions—making it the perfect place to better understand the history of Ōuchi-juku.
You must take off your shoes and walk on tatami mats, and there are resting areas where you can sit. During certain seasons, a fire is lit in the irori (a traditional sunken hearth), giving you a feel for life in bygone times.
