Tsukada Memorial Hall 塚田歴史伝説館

Animatronics and legends

This quirky museum doesn't have much English information, but it might appeal to residents who understand Japanese. The museum exhibit begins with a startling animated elderly lady playing shamisen (and her cat) who sings and reveals a little of the history of the city. She explains the town's connection to Toshoku at Nikko. Beyond, visitors can view some treasures collected by the lumber baron who built the house, see one of the floats that appears in the biannual autumn festival, and a theater that presents an intriguing folktale - the pacification of a destructive dragon depicted in kamishibai style with a flying animatronic dragon. The sukiya tea house style house overlooks a garden furnished with stone lanterns and a suikinkutsu, a melodious garden feature. Admission is a bit steep at 700 yen, but you can get a 1500 yen ticket at a discount here which admits you to various heritage attractions.