About the Museum
The museum was formerly operated as the Chiba Prefectural Kazusa Museum, which closed in 2008. In October of the same year, it reopened as the Kisarazu City Local History Museum “Kin no Suzu”.
The name “Kin no Suzu”, meaning “Golden Bell,” comes from the pure-gold bells excavated from Kinreizuka Kofun, a Chiba Prefectural Historic Site. These remarkable artifacts are among the museum’s most important treasures.
Exhibitions
The museum’s collections cover a broad period, from the Paleolithic period to the modern era. The exhibits are organized into themed galleries that introduce the archaeology, history, art, and folk culture of Kisarazu.
Gallery 1: Paleolithic Period to Middle Kofun Period
This gallery introduces archaeological remains and artifacts discovered throughout Kisarazu, covering the period from the Paleolithic period and Jomon period through the Yayoi period and the middle Kofun period.
- Kisarazu’s oldest stone tools, excavated at the Nakagoshi Site
- Gion Shell Mound, one of the largest shell middens in the Minami-Boso region
- Sugo Site, a settlement site well known in the history of Japanese archaeology
- Takabe No. 30 and No. 32 Tumuli, among the oldest-known burial mounds in Chiba Prefecture
Gallery 2: Artifacts from Kinreizuka Kofun
This gallery displays valuable artifacts excavated from Kinreizuka Kofun, including decorated swords and pure-gold bells.
Many of these objects are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan and provide important evidence of the wealth and authority of powerful local leaders during the late Kofun period.
Gallery 3: Late Kofun Period to Medieval Japan
This gallery presents artifacts from archaeological sites dating from the late Kofun period through the Nara, Heian, and Muromachi periods.
Highlights include artifacts associated with cremation burials and historical materials related to the Ono family of metalworkers, who were involved in casting and metalworking.
Gallery 4: Early Modern Japan
This gallery explores the culture, religious beliefs, and education of Kisarazu during the Edo period.
It also includes historical materials related to the Jussa domain at the end of the Edo period, providing a glimpse into the political circumstances of the region during the final years of the shogunate.
Gallery 5: Calligraphy and Painting
Works by calligraphers and painters from Kisarazu are displayed here, together with paintings depicting landscapes and scenes from the Boso Peninsula.
Gallery 6: Museum Activities
This gallery introduces the activities of the local history museum and provides information about its special exhibitions and other museum programs.
Gallery 7: Modern and Contemporary Kisarazu
This gallery covers the history of Kisarazu from the Meiji period through the Heisei period.
Exhibits explore the city’s development as a military town, as well as the everyday lives of local residents and the changes that shaped Kisarazu in modern times.
Galleries 8 and 9: Folk Culture
These galleries focus on the traditional culture and everyday life of the Kisarazu area.
Exhibits include tools used for Kazusa-bori, a traditional deep-well drilling technique developed in the Boso region, as well as equipment used in the production of seaweed in Tokyo Bay.
These materials offer a fascinating look at the traditional industries and livelihoods that supported local communities.
Cultural Properties in the Museum’s Collection
Nationally Designated Important Cultural Properties
- Artifacts excavated from Kinreizuka Kofun
- Kazusa-bori drilling tools, designated as folk cultural properties
Chiba Prefectural Cultural Properties
- Artifacts excavated from Takabe No. 30 and No. 32 Tumuli
- Traditional equipment used for Tokyo Bay seaweed production
Kisarazu City Cultural Properties
- Former Anzai Family Residence
- Six-panel folding screen depicting Edo-period customs
- Shishigashira lion head, presented by the Tokugawa family
Attractions Around the Museum
The museum is located within Odayama Park, where visitors can also explore several other attractions.
Nearby highlights include the Former Anzai Family Residence and Kimisarazu Tower, making it possible to combine a visit to the museum with sightseeing in the surrounding park.
Visitor Information
Admission: Free. An admission fee may apply for special exhibitions.
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Mondays (or the following day when Monday is a public holiday) and the year-end/New Year holiday period.
Access: Approximately a 20-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Kisarazu Station. The museum can also be reached by car.
Discover the History of Kisarazu
Kisarazu City Local History Museum “Kin no Suzu” offers a comprehensive introduction to the area’s long history, from prehistoric archaeological sites and Kofun-period tombs to Edo-period culture and modern life.
In particular, the collection of artifacts from Kinreizuka Kofun provides a rare opportunity to see evidence of the wealth and power of ancient leaders in the Kisarazu region.
For visitors interested in Japanese archaeology, ancient history, traditional culture, and the development of local communities, the museum is a valuable starting point for exploring Kisarazu’s heritage.