The Nakatomi Memorial Medicine Museum located in Tashiro, Tosu city is the first medicine museum in west Japan. In the past, Tosu's "haichibai-yaku"* industry had flourished on an equal level to Toyoma, and the city's relationship with medicine is a strong one, with pharmaceutical manufacturing being the primary industry in Tosu even today.
Italian sculptor, Cecco Bonanotte, designed the museum building, which is a contemporary style of architecture using rock and glass. Herbs and various medicinal grasses and bushes are grown around the museum, which has peaceful and calming surrounds, and gives its visitors the impression of being an art museum. Inside are exhibits featuring the attire worn by medicine merchants of the past, tools for making medicine, medicine signage and other items related to medicine, making it a museum of great rarity even in Japan.
The second floor offers an exhibition of interesting materials relating to Tashiro Baiyaku (Tashiro-style medicine selling). Not to be missed is a room on the 1st floor which skillfully reproduces the Alban Atkin chemist which actually existed in London at the end of the 19th century. This room will help you imagine what it was like to work in a chemist in London back in those times.
At the Medicine Museum, you can learn about the history of medicine which has contributed to the health of people, as well as the history of Tosu, in a fun way. Popular not only amongst families, but also as a secret date spot.
* "Haichibai-yaku" is a unique Japanese method of selling medicine by direct delivery to patients' houses.
● Access:
From train station: Get on Nishitetsu Bus bound for JR Yayoigaoka Station at Tosu Station on the JR Nagasaki Main Line, get off at Kusuri Hakubutsukan Iriguchi stop, and walk for 2 minutes
7-minute taxi ride from Tosu Station on the JR Nagasaki Main Line and Kagoshima Main Line
Car: 3-minute drive from Kyushu Expressway and Nagasaki Expressway Tosu IC
● Entry Fees:
300 yen for adult, 200 yen for high school or university student, 100 yen for elementary or junior-high school student
(Group of 20 or more: 200 yen for adult, 100 yen for high school or university student, 20 yen for elementary or junior-high school student)
● Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (admission ends at 16:30)
● Closed: Mondays (or the following day if a Monday falls on a public holiday and year-end and new-year holidays)
● Parking Lot: Accommodates 20 standard-sized cars and 3 motor coaches
● Contact: Nakatomi Memorial Medicine Museum, Tel: +81-942-84-3334
