Obuse小布施

Opened in 1976, and 50 years old in 2026. The museum shows Katsushika Hokusai's work from the years he stayed in Obuse in his eighties as a guest of the local merchant Takai Kōzan, including his festival-float ceiling paintings. Admission is ¥1,200 (¥500 students, ¥300 school children) since April 2025. Exhibitions change in rotation: when parts are closed a reduced ticket applies, and on 13 Oct 2026 only the float rooms were open at ¥300, ahead of a 50th anniversary collection show from 14 to 22 October. Closed 31 December only.

A Sōtō Zen temple founded in 1472. Its main hall has Hokusai's Happō-nirami Hōō-zu (八方睨み鳳凰図), a phoenix on a ceiling of 21 tatami mats painted so that its gaze seems to follow you. The grounds also hold the pond linked to Kobayashi Issa's frog haiku and the mausoleum of the warlord Fukushima Masanori. Entry about ¥500, last entry 16:30 from April to October and earlier in winter.

The house of the scholar and merchant who invited Hokusai to Obuse. Its Yūzenrō (翛然楼) is the salon where Kōzan held gatherings with Hokusai and other scholars. About ¥300, and the quickest way to see why an Edo artist kept travelling to a chestnut town in his eighties.

Obuse is one of Japan's chestnut towns. Obuse-dō (小布施堂) makes Suzaku (栗の点心 朱雀) to order from fresh chestnuts, 10 September to 18 October 2026 at its main shop; book in season. Its Montblanc Suzaku set is ¥2,500 with a drink at the Entotsu shop, year round, dine-in only. Chikufudō (竹風堂) is known for kuri-okowa, chestnut sticky rice. Chestnut yōkan and kuri kanoko are sold from late September to mid December. The “chestnut lane” paths are paved with blocks of chestnut wood.

Masuichi-Ichimura (桝一市村酒造場) is the sake brewery run by the family behind Obuse-dō, with a tasting counter in the town centre. Obuse Winery (小布施ワイナリー) makes its Domaine Sogga wines from its own vineyards about 15–17 min on foot from the station, and brews a winter-only sake, Sogga Père et Fils, that is hard to find elsewhere.