Nagano travel
Hokusai-kan Museum
Hokusai-kan Museum · The Hokusai-kan Museum · 北斎館
At Obuse's Hokusai-kan Museum, view wave, dragon and phoenix paintings on festival-float ceilings. Explore the surviving float paintings and your date's special exhibition for Hokusai's work in forms beyond paper.
Hokusai-kan: visiting guide Official sources Official sources
Visitor information
Address
長野県上高井郡小布施町大字小布施485
485 Obuse, Obuse-machi, Kamitakai-gun, Nagano-ken 381-0201, Japan
View on the mapAdmission
Usual special-exhibition admission is JPY 1,200 for adults, JPY 500 for senior high school and university students and JPY 300 for primary and junior high school children; younger children enter free. During the RISD special exhibition, 8 August–12 October 2026, rates are JPY 1,800, JPY 800 and JPY 500 respectively. Other exhibition periods follow their own guidance.
Opening hours
The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 4:30 pm. The museum is closed on 31 December. Only some rooms may open during changeovers; check your chosen exhibition's dates.
What to see at Hokusai-kan Museum
Paintings on festival-float ceilings
Festival-float ceilings retain wave, dragon and phoenix paintings. Look at floats and ceiling paintings together to explore Hokusai's work.
How to get to Hokusai-kan Museum
Take Nagano Dentetsu from Nagano to Obuse Station, then walk about 12 minutes to Hokusai-kan. Adult local-train single fare is JPY 870; limited-express and reserved-seat surcharges are separate. Choose outward and return trains together in your date's timetable.
Hokusai-kan: visiting guide Nagano Dentetsu: Obuse fares and timetable Nagano Dentetsu: Obuse local/limited-express fare table
Before you visit
Only some rooms open on 13 and 23 October 2026
On 13 and 23 October 2026, only some rooms, including the festival-float room, open; regular admission is JPY 300. The full special exhibition is unavailable and discounts cannot be used. For a special exhibition, avoid these changeover dates and visit within its run.
Shortened hours on 1 January
Hours are 10 am–3 pm on 1 January. Plan for a later opening and earlier closure than usual.
Questions about Hokusai-kan Museum
Can I see the special exhibition during a Hokusai-kan changeover?
Some changeover days open only certain rooms, without the full special exhibition. Choose whether you want floats or the special exhibition, then check your date's open areas in the changeover notice.
Official sources
- Hokusai-kan: visiting guide ·
- Official sources ·
- Official sources ·
- Hokusai-kan: 2026 RISD special exhibition dates and fees ·
- Exhibition changeover notice ·
- Nagano Dentetsu: Obuse fares and timetable ·
- Nagano Dentetsu: Obuse local/limited-express fare table ·
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