Jinchokan Moriya Shiryokan (Moriya Family Documents Museum)

Overview

The Jinchokan Moriya Shiryokan is a museum located in Miyagawa, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture. It preserves and exhibits documents from the Moriya family, who served as chief priests of Suwa Taisha Shrine's Kamisha (Upper Shrine) until the early Meiji period. Commissioned by the 78th head of the Moriya family, Sanae Moriya, and the city of Chino, the museum was designed by architectural historian Terunobu Fujimori and completed in 1991. The museum houses numerous valuable historical materials. Highlights include ancient documents such as the "Suwa Daimyosho Gashin" and "Nennai Shinji Shijikai Kiroku," as well as letters from prominent warlords like Takeda Shingen and Sanada Yukimura. These materials offer insights into the Moriya family's history, the history of the Suwa region, and its unique religious beliefs. The lobby exhibit features a reconstruction of the sacred offerings (Shinsen) from the Ogatsuri (酉の祭) festival of Suwa Taisha Shrine's Kamisha. You can witness firsthand what the deer heads and other offerings looked like. Designed by Terunobu Fujimori, a native of the region, the museum building is a striking blend of traditional and modern aesthetics. The roof is covered with traditional "teppanyaseki" slate tiles from the Suwa region. The exterior walls utilize the traditional "warita-ita" technique using sawara cypress boards, previously used for roofing. The interior features materials like straw-mixed mortar and hand-blown glass. While artificially recreating lost traditions, the building's unique design is distinctly rooted in the land, avoiding mere historical revivalism. Nearby, you can also visit other structures designed by Fujimori: Takasugian, Hikusugian, and the Sora Tobu Dorobune (Flying Mud Boat). Like the museum itself, these structures showcase a fascinating fusion of tradition and modernity. The Jinchokan Moriya Shiryokan is a captivating destination for anyone interested in history, culture, and architecture. Explore valuable historical materials, unique architecture, and surrounding historical structures while immersing yourself in the rich history and culture of the Suwa region.