Ogawa village local and historical museum、小川村郷土歴史館

The village in central Japan (Nagano prefecture) is in a mountainous area. The museum in a village facility “Furusato land Ogawa” which has a cafe; I reckon it would be a gathering space of villagers.

The exhibition room is about half the size of a classroom in which exhibits concerning history and folklore are displayed. Photography was prohibited.

長野県北部の小川村、“ふるさとらんど小川” にある資料館です。展示室は教室半分ぐらいの広さで、歴史と民俗を展示しています。喫茶室があり集いの場としての機能が強いようです。室内の写真撮影は禁止でした。

A temporary art exhibition was held in the entrance hall. The permanent exhibition room is in behind.

エントランスホールとの仕切りが取り払われた特別展示室では絵画展が開かれていました。奥が常設展示室です。

Images of the exhibition room are pictures on the brochure. There were three items which looked like portable shrine which is named “Kagura”; its wood carving is so elaborate. Similar ones which are also named Kagura are exhibited in the museum of the neighboring area. The same clan "Oohigata" ruled the villages in the medieval era. I just guess the cultural exchange among villages thrived in their territory.

いただいたパンフレットから。訪問時は、展示室中央には「神楽」とよばれる非常に凝った彫刻がなされた神輿のような展示品が三基、並べられていました。隣の旧鬼無里村（現長野市）にも神楽が展示されていました。同じ領主（大日方氏）だと庶民の交流が盛んになるのかも知れませんね。

The former official residence of a governor is linked to the museum. The building was moved here; Mr. Nishizawa, who served six terms as governor, was born in the village.

Around a hundred of villager’s photos are displayed. Those show us village life back then (mid-20th century). Many of them smile a lot when they are with other villagers.

旧知事公舎が移設され、歴史館の建物と接続されています。知事を６期務めた西澤氏は小川村の出身です。

和室では、昭和中期を中心に村の人々の写真が100枚ぐらい展示されているのですが、暮らしがよくわかるだけでなく、表情から何が楽しかったかが推測できます。ほかの人と一緒の時にたくさんの笑顔がこぼれていました。

The building above is a museum of an ex hydroelectric power plant. Surprisingly enough, villagers built it by themselves in 1923. The brochure says, “In Taishou period (1912-1926), locals built it by themselves, it is preserved by locals at present.”

It is a perfect example of “self-help”. They didn’t rely on the government or a power company. Those entities didn’t do, so they do. The self-help spirit remained then.

上の建物は「旧上水電気発電所資料館」です。1923年に住民が組合を作って水力発電所を建設（場所は旧鬼無里村）。自らの手で村に電気を引きました。パンフレットには、

「大正時代、地域住民の手により建設、
　平成の今、地域住民の手により保存。」

と書かれています。自助もここまで来るとすごいです。大正時代には「国や電力会社がやらないなら自分でやる」という気風が残っていたのですね。

The view of Japan Alps behind the mountains in Ogawa is incredible!

小川村からは山越しに北アルプス（後立山連峰）が見えます。

Visited in May, 2025

Reference website、参考サイト：

https://www.village.ikusaka.nagano.jp/kankou/kankou.html#siryou (in Japanese), accessed in February of 2026

Previous post (museum near Ogawa village): Museum of farming village “Ikusaka”、生坂村農村資料館

Next post (museum near Ogawa village): Kinasa Folk Museum、鬼無里ふるさと資料館きなさーれ(Coming soon)

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