Tendo City Shogi Museum

Tendo City Shogi Museum, located inside JR Tendo Station, celebrates Tendo's status as Japan's leading producer of shogi pieces, a craft the city has practiced since the 19th century and which now accounts for the great majority of shogi pieces made nationwide. The compact museum displays the history and calligraphy styles of hand-carved shogi pieces, tools used by piece-carving artisans, and materials on the game's professional competitions, several of which have historically been held in Tendo. Exhibits include examples of different piece-carving techniques, from simple painted characters to the elaborate raised-lacquer 'moriage' style prized by collectors, and visitors can typically try a game of shogi at tables provided in the museum. Because of its station location, a visit fits easily into a short stop while traveling through Tendo, with most visitors spending 45 minutes to an hour browsing the exhibits and, for those interested, playing a casual game. The museum is compact enough that time of day makes little difference to the experience, though weekday visits tend to be quieter than weekends when local shogi enthusiasts sometimes gather.