Hokusai Museum

The Hokusai Museum features some of the works by Katsushika Hokusai, a famous ukiyo-e painter from the Edo Period. Hokusai is best known for his woodblock series known as “Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji.” Included in this series is the “Great Wave off Kanagawa” that has gained worldwide fame. The museum was built in honor of the time Hokusai spent towards the end of his life as a guest of Takai Kozan, a wealthy salt merchant in Obuse. The Hokusai Museum can be found in the center town and features two festive floats where the ceilings were decorated by Hokusai. A dragon with his signature waves is in one of the floats while the other dons a phoenix with the iconic waves design. At the Ganshoin Temple a Chinese style phoenix mural was painted by Hokusai in his final year. The incredible detail on the red mythical bird is a sight that should not be missed.