Muroya-no-sono Merchant House Museum (Prefecture’s Important Folk-cultural Property)

Muroya is a trade name of the Oda Family who prospered as oil merchant in Edo Period. Later they became one of the most wealthy merchant houses in western Japan. The family owned as many as 50 trading ships during the Edo Period and its trading area expanded from Kyushu to Osaka. Today, this is one of Japan’s biggest merchant houses well-preserved since that era, having 11 buildings with 35 rooms including a main house, a main warehouse, an accounting house, a rice warehouse, a tool shed and a Chugen samurai room. By looking at various living wares and business tools displayed in the museum, you will know how prosperous the family was during that time. The museum also holds special events such as seasonal displays and photo exhibitions.