During your travels, you may suddenly find yourself turning down a side street in search of quieter surroundings away from the hustle and bustle of the busy streets.
It's not an eye-catching building, but it somehow catches your heart. It has a modest sign, a wooden door that has been aged over time, and a quiet, undeniable presence.

Hakata Machiya Furusatokan is a place where such forgotten scenery rests.
Although it is not depicted on tourist maps, the memories that have lived in the city of Hakata, the lives of the people, the excitement of festivals, and the warmth of handicrafts quietly live on here.

Weaving through time: The 30-year history of Furusatokan

Hakata Machiya Furusatokan opened in 1995 and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Located right next to Kushida Shrine, which is known for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, this facility utilizes a relocated and preserved townhouse from the mid-Meiji period and has been working to pass on local culture.

The museum is divided into three areas: the Exhibition Building, the Machiya Building, and the Souvenir Shop, and is structured to convey local culture in a three-dimensional way, centered around the three pillars of Hakata life, festivals, and crafts.

"The Furusatokan building was originally a Hakata-ori merchant's house. Now, as a cultural facility, it plays a role in passing on the lifestyle and traditional crafts of that time to future generations," says Gotanda, who runs the museum. In addition to managing the facility, he is also responsible for cooperation with the local community and overall efforts to preserve the culture.

Developing "town culture" along three axes

The Furusatokan Museum conveys not only special history, but also proof that someone lived their daily life.

In the "Life" exhibit, everyday items used in the early Showa period tell the story of life in Hakata in the past. Woven bamboo baskets, soot-covered iron kettles, wooden furniture that still bears traces of handiwork - each tells us about the time spent in the kitchen, workplace, and veranda of the past.

The nostalgic yet gentle atmosphere you feel when you take off your shoes and step onto the tatami mats is a fragment of a memory of a family from long ago laughing and living their lives.

Festivals and crafts are also an important part of Hakata's scenery, inseparable from the way of life of the past. Demonstrations of traditional crafts such as Hakata weaving are held inside the museum, and visitors can quietly watch the techniques in awe.

As you step into the townhouse, the sound of a loom gently fills the air from time to time.

Every time the artisans carefully weave the silk threads, a soft rhythm resonates and the lustrous threads take on a luminous glow. The sound is as if the Meiji-era townhouse has begun to quietly breathe.

It is a moment when the breath of life from the past gently comes back to life before your eyes, transcending time.

In the Hakata doll and Hakata paper mache experiences, you can observe up close the delicate brush strokes and the process of creating facial expressions, and then create your own doll to take home. As you learn these ancient techniques, you can enjoy a quiet conversation with yourself as you focus on your fingertips.

"There are three attractions to Furusatokan. The first is that you can encounter a nostalgic lifestyle. The second is that you can learn about Hakata's festivals and crafts. And the third is that you can 'experience' all of these things in the space of a machiya," Gotanda told us.

A place where people gather and memories are made

There is always a sense of presence in the quiet building.

"We have many foreign tourists visiting, and we want to make it a place that locals can drop in to casually as well. We're not just focusing on enriching the exhibits, but also on maintaining the charm of the entire Furusatokan," says Gotanda.

The reason it has been loved for over 30 years is that there are reasons why people want to come back again and again. Local elementary school students come to experience traditional games, and people involved with the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival drop by. In addition, the park also hosts events that bring the local community together, such as the annual rice cake pounding event and a Matoi Buri performance by the fire department.

In recent years, Furusatokan has also been focusing on passing on culture to the next generation.

Starting in 2025, the Hakatakko Club will be launched for third to sixth grade elementary school students. Through monthly classes, the club will provide a place where students can enjoy learning about Hakata's history and culture.

"I recommend that you first experience the culture of Hakata in a historic townhouse, and then visit the nearby shrines and temples. We also offer traditional craft experiences, so we hope you will create many memories," says Gotanda.

A new door that connects cultural memories to the future

Hakatakara, a souvenir shop that reopened on April 26, 2025

The spring of 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Furusatokan. As a new challenge, the souvenir shop will be reopened under the name "Hakatakara." This name embodies the desire to "pass on Hakata's treasure - its culture - to the next generation from here."

After the renovation, Hakatakara not only allows you to purchase Hakata souvenirs, but also features a cafe where you can enjoy Japanese tea and Japanese sweets, tourist information, and even an experience space where you can experience Japanese culture such as origami and calligraphy.

Hakata Machiya Furusatokan will continue to move forward together with the local community as a base for preserving Hakata culture and connecting it to the future.

Gotanda says, "Culture doesn't end with an exhibition. It's the experiences that you see, feel, and want to tell someone about that are the ones that stay in your memory. I hope that Hakata Machiya Furusatokan can be that 'entrance'."

If you stop for a moment during your travels, you may find that a "hometown" you never knew existed is quietly waiting for you.

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博多町家 ふるさと館 
電話：092-281-7761 
住所：福岡県福岡市博多区冷泉町6-10 
アクセス：ホテルリソルトリニティ博多より徒歩約9分 
HP：https://hakatamachiya.com/access/ 
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