[Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture] We visited the Sendai City History and Folklore Museum in Tsutsujigaoka Park

The Sendai City History and Folklore Museum (former 4th Infantry Regiment Barracks) in Tsutsujigaoka Park was once used as a dormitory for soldiers, but only the 4th Barracks remains and was relocated to the east side of the park. Even today, as a historical relic and a place of learning for Sendai citizens, it conveys the history of war and the lives of ordinary people during the Showa era

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Sendai History and Folklore Museum is located from the east exit of Sendai Station

Let's leave the serious talk for later and get going

In fact, the area around the east exit of Sendai Station is an urban area that complies with the City Landscape Act, and although there has been no major public announcement, redevelopment is proceeding in accordance with that city plan

I came back here for the first time in a while and was honestly surprised to see that the area behind Sendai Station is quite stylish and has a skyscraper district. Beautiful leopard-like Sendai women stroll briskly through the gaps between the skyscrapers, creating an unfamiliar urban feel. Country folk always feel intimidated (/´△`＼) I should have at least worn a proper new Uniqlo outfit

So today, I'm going to walk 15 minutes from the east exit of Sendai Station, through the row of buildings along Miyagino-dori Street, and head to the Sendai City History and Folklore Museum

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The building's history includes being a dormitory for military personnel and a police station

Well, we've arrived. By the way, on the days when the museum is open, a slope like this is set up as a landmark. Even on days when the museum is normally closed, there are occasional opening days on public holidays and holiday weeks. The day I went was a Sunday, and they were holding a special exhibition on vehicles, past and present

All the train enthusiasts are gathering together (/´△`＼) It's the Sendai Electric Railway. It's a nostalgic tram-type diesel railcar, so let's take a look

The main entrance is here. You can get a sense of the history of the government housing from the building's furnishings. It's easy to see why it has such dignity and grandeur, given how it was used (everything was thick and big)

The existing reception counter at the main entrance is also located quite high up, so you have to look up when talking to the staff. I imagine the hierarchical relationships among soldiers must have been quite intense

A recreation of dormitory life, including a real matchlock gun

The interior of the dormitory has been recreated exactly as it was back then, including the military uniforms and mess kit storage

All the exhibits are genuine, and the matchlock gun, which weighs over 3kg (apparently it's a real one from that time), was on display without a glass case. There was an elderly woman trying it out, so I cut in line and got to hold it, but it was really heavy

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Highlights of the "Daily Tools" exhibit at the History and Folklore Museum

Another reason it is called a historical and folk museum is that it features exhibits that recreate the lives of ordinary people, separate from the rapid political and economic growth of the postwar period

It feels like a TV drama set, giving us a glimpse into the simple and down-to-earth lifestyle of the time. On the wall is a replica of a dining table from that time, and it seems that the normal meal consisted of one soup and one dish with a small piece of meat or fish, but for New Year's and Obon events, lavish meals like those served in the guest rooms of a ryokan inn were served

However, I saw it in a special exhibition and it seems that "meals were in bowls, two times a day" (´△｀) I guess they were full from the moment they were born

Nostalgic Showa-era washing machines have hand cranks

During the Showa era, washing machines first appeared in homes in the 1950s. The exact year is unknown, but they were single-tub washing machines with a hand-operated spin roller on the side of the machine

At the time, the museum director was demonstrating a hand-crank washing machine to some children, so I listened to his explanation. It turns out that this type of washing machine was unpopular because it was troublesome to use, and so a two-tub washing machine was soon introduced

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Highlight of the exhibition booth: "A nostalgic candy store front"

The display case at the end of the second floor, "Candy Store Front," is lined with toys and candy just as they were back then

Small sweets sold in packs of two for 10 yen and small pieces of hardtack sold individually are on display alongside nostalgic toys. Come to think of it, cheap sweets were always so small... I'm sure many people learned how to make the most of 100 yen at a cheap sweets store and how to manage their pocket money

I'm sure there are people who find it difficult to ask the old lady at the counter, even though it takes a lot of courage (´△｀) If they have to ask twice, they'll be disheartened. Those who are okay with it just can't read the situation,

(*ﾟ▽ﾟ)ﾉ←This guy

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You can experience the games that children used to play in the exhibition room

There was also an area where you could try making handmade toys, but since the elementary school kids were all playing there, I decided not to go. You can check it out for yourself (adults are welcome to join in too)

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Finally, "Highlights of Tsutsujigaoka Park, where the History and Folklore Museum is located"

Tsutsujigaoka Park, where the History and Folklore Museum is located, Sendai's most famous cherry blossom viewing spots and has supported outings for the common people since the days of black-and-white photography. The museum also has on display postcards of common people with traditional Japanese hairstyles, wearing kasuri kimonos and furoshiki wrapping cloths, and spreading out their lunch boxes. The origins of outings and cherry blossom viewing date back to when Tsunamura, the fourth lord of the Date clan, planted weeping cherry trees and equinox cherry trees as funeral sakura.

It's a typical story of Tsunamura, one of the most elegant tea masters in Oshu (´△｀) Chiyo's cherry blossom viewing bento always contains zunda mochi

It's the perfect place for cherry blossom viewing, so be sure to stop by the History and Folklore Museum while you're there

How to get to the History and Folklore Museum from the East Exit of Sendai Station

• Walking ➡️ On a clear day, it's about a 20-minute stroll along Miyagino-dori
• Car/Taxi ➡️ Take a taxi from the taxi pool at the east exit of Sendai Station, about 5 minutes
• Bus ➡️Get off at "Sendai Daisan Godochosha-mae"
• By train: Take the Senseki Line to JR Tsutsujigaoka Station and walk a short distance into the park

At the Sendai East Exit Bus Pool, hydrogen buses (electric buses) like this one occasionally appear, and test drives are also held. Sendai City is actively working on sustainability, so you're lucky if you spot such a vehicle in the city. (This is a Toyota SORA, and different colors are also on the road.)

I took a test drive, but I couldn't hear the engine, so I turned around and was shocked to see that I was being followed at close range by a bus (´△｀)

We also recommend renting a bike to get around!

You can easily transfer between ports, and there are convenient rental bicycle ports set up at stations, hotels, and other locations. Recommended for sightseeing

I tried riding it and found the assist power to be quite impressive, which was very useful in Sendai, which has a surprisingly large number of hills. One-day passes can be purchased at convenience stores, but you will need a smartphone that can receive SNS messages when registering

Sendai City History and Folklore Museum <Information>

• Name: Sendai City History and Folklore Museum (Former 4th Infantry Regiment Barracks)
• Address: Gorin, Miyagino Ward, Sendai City (inside Tsutsujigaoka Park)
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:45 (last entry at 16:15)
• Closed: Every Monday and the third Thursday of every month. (Temporary closures: New Year's holidays, Obon, etc.)
• Admission fee: Adults 240 yen (190 yen) / High school students: 180 yen (140 yen) / Elementary and junior high school students: 120 yen (90 yen)
• Official URL: Sendai City History and Folklore Museum Official Website

Google Maps

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