Tawara Art Museum

This museum opened in 1998 in Ashiya, a sophistiLNDTYPEd, refined city blessed with wonderful greenery. One notable piece in the collection is the "yatate," a portable writing utensil that was primarily used during the Edo Period (1603-1867). The woodblock print artist Hiroshige used it to produce his series, "The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido." The museum has 55 copies of works from this series (from the Hoeido edition). Other pieces on display include a "netsuke yatate," equipment attached to a sword (guard, "kogara" knife attached to the sheath, pommel cover, pommel, hilt rivets), tobacco pouch, hair oil container and more.