May 19, 2014 - 1 min read

Omihachiman Roof Tile Museum

Private museum displaying gorgeous kawara

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Roof ornament such as you might see on a temple

The door to a kiln used for baking the tiles

View through a kiln

Path on one side of the museum

Tiles are often recycled in paths and walls. The paths around the museum have tiles laid into them.

Broken tiles laid like cobbles, next to tiles laid on edge to form patterns.

Narrow window in the plastered wall of the museum

The museum is in a modern building, yet it has a very traditional vibe to it, due to the use of tiles, plastered walls and small narrow windows

Rock stone steps lead up to the museum from the canal

Example of roof ornaments decorate the museum surroundings

I love the tile border at the base of the museum building!

Kawara, or roof tiles (and ornaments), are one of the things that give Japanese traditional architecture its unique character. On the banks of beautiful Omihachiman Canal there is a small private museum owned by a company which makes kawara. Unfortunately photography is not permitted inside, but there are many beautiful roof ornaments on display. The museum itself is a great example of modern architecture that incorporates traditional elements.

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Cathy Cawood

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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