The Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History, known in Japanese as Kanagawa Kenritsu Rekishi Hakubutsukan, is a museum in Yokohama, in the Kanto Region of Japan. It sits at 5-60 Minami-Nakadori in Naka-ku, a central district of the city, so it is a practical stop for anyone already exploring Yokohama.
The museum takes a broad view of its subject. Its galleries cover the cultural history of Kanagawa Prefecture, tracing the story from ancient times through to the modern era. For a visitor new to the region, this makes it a useful starting point: rather than focusing on a single period or theme, the displays show how the area developed over a long span of time.
The building
The museum is housed in a neoclassical building, and the architecture is part of the visit. Its formal, carefully proportioned facade stands in contrast to the modern towers of much of central Yokohama, so it is worth looking at the building itself as well as what is inside.
Planning a visit
- Where: 5-60 Minami-Nakadori, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0006, Japan.
- Phone: +81-45-201-0926, if you want to check details before you go.
- Best suited to: visitors interested in history and regional culture, and those who want a calm indoor activity in the city centre.
Because the museum covers such a wide period, it works well for a slower visit of an hour or more. Pairing it with a walk around the surrounding Naka-ku streets makes a relaxed half-day in central Yokohama.
