If you have any interest in time-keeping systems, clockworks or just understanding how complex mechanisms literally tick, this is a great place! The docent gave us the English guide, which explains the fascinating pre-Western time system and how the one clock that is still operating works, in detail. The working clock is completely accessible so my husband and I spent an hour seated around it, tracing through exactly how the mechanism works. The docent then showed us both the chime and the alarm in action. It was a wonderful visit. Highly recommended.

Not suitable for foreigners. Very interesting museum with roughly twenty pieces of clock using weight. All item descriptions are Japanese. The museum has an English booklet that explain all the history and clock mechanism. The adult fee is 300 yen. I only stayed 10 minutes. It is a house among residential area. Google map can help the navigation.

Looks old, nice, interesting, but closed. I will try to come again. The side door was so low, like all those old castles and buildings. Either the people were not as tall, or they wanted any visitor or thief to have to bow down and be a bit vulnerable to enter.

+2

I am surprised to see people saying this museum was closed when they went. I have gone three times in the last four years, always unplanned, and found it open each time. Still, it is a small private collection, so I would recommend calling ahead if you are really concerned. This museum is housed in a lovely - though slightly ramshackle - building surrounded by greenery and costs 300 yen to enter. It takes about 30 minutes to see, including reading the signs. Shoes can't be worn in the building, but there are slippers available. The museum itself consists of a large, single room displaying a nice assembly of old Japanese clocks and pocket watches. As many others have reported, the materials are only written in Japanese, but are very informative if you can read them! There seems to be an English guide for sale for a very cheap price (essentially covering the cost of photocopying), though I have never used the guide personally. The clocks are interesting to look at even if you can't understand Japanese, but it would be best to do a little research on "Edo-period clocks" so you know what the idea of "time" means in this context (it's different from the equally divided, not-seasonally-oriented structure of Western time). I think this little museum is a fun spot and have brought a few like-minded Japanese here who really enjoyed it, but I can definitely see how it wouldn't be satisfying for a non-Japanese reader or person who isn't interested in Japanese scientific/technological history. It's not for everyone, but it is a nice to visit for those who are inclined toward the scientific and historical.

A very nice museum! Its size make it perfect to fit in every kind of route you might choose to take. The museum is unique and is part of the private collection of Guro Kamiguchi. Founder of the Kamiguchi japanese clock preservation society. The museum is open but remain in the dark until you ring the bell. Then a descendant of Guro Kamiguchi will come to open the museum for you. As stated on the website, the entry is about 300 yen. They do not speak english BUT for 100 yen you can buy a complete study about japanese clock in english! The booklet of 11 pages will tell you about the history, the types of clock, how the clocks works and the history of the museum. When you buy your ticket the booklet is displayed right in front of you. You can ask if you can take a picture "Shashin tote ii desu ka?" , in my case I got allowed 1 picture! ^^ The clocks are in very good shape and you can also ask the owner to see how the exemple clock work. Inside the museum 2 of the Daimyo clocks belonged to the Tokugawa clan! Really interesting if you love history! (oh, you will need to take your shoes off)