ABOUT
About this spot
Kanagawa Prefectural Kanazawa Bunko is a history museum in Kanazawa-machi, Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama. It descends from a private library said to have been founded by Hojo Sanetoki of the Kanazawa branch of the Hojo clan in the late Kamakura period. The museum collects and exhibits medieval documents, Buddhist art and local historical materials, centered on items connected to Shomyoji Temple, the family temple of the clan. The library is thought to date from around 1275, though opinions differ. After the clan fell in 1333, Shomyoji looked after the books, but many were taken away over the following centuries. A reading hall was rebuilt in 1897, and a new building opened in 1930 as the prefectural library. It was registered as a museum in 1955, and the present building was completed in 1990. Highlights include National Treasure portraits of the Kanazawa Hojo family and medieval documents such as the Shomyoji Shogyo and Kanazawa Bunko documents. Many holdings are on deposit from Shomyoji. Other exhibits include classical books, Edo-period ukiyo-e of the Eight Views of Kanazawa, and archaeological finds from the nearby Shomyoji shell mound. Exhibitions change regularly, so check the official website before visiting.
Last updated October 26, 2026