“The City of Fujisawa Ukiyo-e Museum” was established aiming to cultivate the citizens’ love toward their hometown, and contribute to enhance the cultural life of citizens. In order to achieve these aims, the City of Fujisawa established the museum for visitors to appreciate the local cultural materials, such as the ukiyo-e works of Tōkaidō Fujisawa Post Station and Enoshima Island, and related materials.

The collection started in 1980 (Shōwa 55), when the former president of Nihon University, Mr. Kure Fumiaki donated his collection based on the ukiyo-e works of Enoshima Island to the city, commemorating its 40th anniversary of municipalization. Since then, as the materials for local studies, the city has collected the ukiyo-e of Fujisawa-shuku (post station) and Enoshima Island along with related materials.

Ukiyo-e was the pictorial art works that depict people’s life and conditions of the society, and developed as the commoners’ culture in Edo period. In 19th century, ukiyo-e as art objects, gave a great impact to the European artists including notable Vincent van Gogh, and attracted many worldwide audience. Since Fujisawa flourished both as a religious place and a resort, it was often illustrated in ukiyo-e. Fujisawa post station was situated along Tōkaidō highway in Edo period, and head temple of Ji-sect Buddhism, Shōjōkōji Temple (Yugyōji) was also located in Fujisawa. Both tourists and pilgrims gathered here since the entrance gates for pilgrimage to Enoshima Island and Mt. Ōyama (Mt. Amefuri) were located in this place. These famous places and legends related to Fujisawa are often depicted in ukiyo-e.

The Fujisawa Ukiyo-e Museum will work on imparting the local culture through our collection and our greatest hope is that you, the visitors will enjoy our museum. We look forward to your visit.