Fujisawa City opened the Fujisawa Ukiyo-e Museum, a facility where local historical materials, including ukiyo-e prints of Fujisawa-juku on the Tokaido road and Enoshima, can be viewed, with the aim of fostering citizens' attachment to their hometown and contributing to the improvement of their culture. Fujisawa City's collection of ukiyo-e and other historical materials began in 1980 (Showa 55), when it received Enoshima ukiyo-e prints from Mr. Kure Fumiaki, former president of Nihon University, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the city's incorporation. Since then, as part of its collection of local historical materials, the city has been collecting ukiyo-e prints and related materials depicting Fujisawa-juku and Enoshima.
Ukiyo-e are paintings depicting people's lives and social conditions, and they developed as a part of popular culture during the Edo period. Furthermore, in the late 19th century, they greatly influenced European painters such as Van Gogh, and are now works of art that attract attention from all over the world. Fujisawa was the location of the Fujisawa post town on the Tokaido road during the Edo period, and also home to the head temple of the Jishu sect, Seijokoji (Yugyo-ji). As the entrance to the pilgrimage route to Enoshima and Oyama (Afuriyama), which were places of worship and recreation, many ukiyo-e prints based on famous places and legends were created in Fujisawa.
The Fujisawa Ukiyo-e Museum will continue to strive to be a facility that conveys and allows everyone to appreciate local culture and enjoy their visit. We sincerely look forward to your visit.
