Hangamura Museum and Gallery: A Showcase of Sado's Print Art

The Hangamura Museum and Gallery is located in Aikawa Komeyamachi, Sado, and is dedicated to showcasing a diverse collection of print art. The museum's collection highlights the woodblock engraving movement spearheaded by the late Shinichi Takahashi, a woodblock print artist and high school teacher. Approximately 260 pieces are on permanent display, primarily featuring Takahashi's posthumous works and pieces by local Sado artists. Visitors can explore various printmaking techniques, including woodblock, copperplate, and silkscreen prints. The museum also hosts monthly exhibitions and woodblock print workshops for a fee. The museum is housed in the former Aikawa Summary Court, a building that retains architectural elements from the Meiji Period. The museum is closed on Mondays, or the next day if Monday is a public holiday and from January to the end of February. Near the museum, a time bell, cast in 1712 using Sado-produced bronze, chimes in the morning and evening. The bell, originally used to signal time in Aikawa until 1871, adds to the area's historical charm.