Along with 別海町郷土資料館, I also visited 加賀家文書館. Who knew that members of the 加賀 family who came from 石川県 built a trading network around 根室 from 野付半島 and prospered, while also leaving behind vast amounts of documents about the Ainu, the geography of 北海道, and trade…!!! The exhibition room is incredibly beautiful, and it’s fascinating because it’s full of stories you don’t encounter elsewhere!

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I viewed the exhibits with great interest. This is a valuable museum displaying documents that preserve accounts of life at the time. There aren’t many objects, so someone with little interest might walk around once and finish in about １ minute, but the explanations are thorough, starting with the historical background. Since Ainu culture had no writing system, documentary sources from Edo-period 北海道 are precious, and these records of life in 道東 are particularly valuable. Documents, explanations, excavated objects, and other materials offer insights into life, geography, and people’s movements at the time. The exhibits also touch on friendships and life with the Ainu people, and connections with 松浦武四郎.

It isn’t large, but it displays many documents left by members of the 加賀 family who were active in this region during the late Edo period.

I visited because I wanted to learn more about the mysterious town of キラク. The easy-to-understand explanations of valuable documents, along with excavated objects and models, are very helpful for understanding the atmosphere of the time.

Interesting materials are on display, including documents from the 加賀 family, who worked as interpreters here during the Edo period, and a diorama of 野付通行屋, which likely plays a part in the legend of 「キラク」.