TRAVEL
Satō Hikogorō Museum
Opened on 23 April 2006, the Satō Hikogorō Museum is currently operated by Satō Fukuko, the family’s 16th generation descendants.
Satō Hikogorō was born in 1827. At the age of eleven, he inherited all his grandfather’s Hino City’s assets upon his father’s death. He married Hijikata Toshizō’s elder sister Nobu in 1845 and developed a particular rapport with Hijikata Toshizō. A true businessman in nature, Satō Hikogorō spent most of his time managing trade and administration. In 1849, however, Hino-shuku was caught in a fire and during this chaotic state, he witnessed his mother get stabbed to death by a bandit. It is owing to this incident that he was convinced of the importance swordsmanship mastery as a means of self-defence, he immediately attended training the following year under Kondō Shusuke’s tutelage, third master of the Tennen Rishin-ryū. He even made room for the dojo on Hino-shuku Honjin’s east side. In view of the rising trainee numbers, the dojo was reconstructed into a larger area and it was the time when Kondō Isami, Hijikata Toshizō and Okita Sōji paid their regular visits and became acquainted with Satō Hikogorō.
Their relationship was a close one ever since, and Satō Hikogorō was always ready to provide financial and spiritual support for the Shinsengumi’s development. During the five years of their station in Kyoto, there was constant letter exchange with Satō Hikogorō in Hino. The correspondence papers were fortunately preserved and exhibited in the Museum along with other valuables including the flute, metal fan and tea set given by Hijikata Toshizō to his sister as a souvenir. These facilitated a deeper understanding of the entertainment forms, of their life and thoughts as Shinsengumi members.
Satō Hikogorō Museum)
Address: 2-15-5 Hinohommachi, Hino, Tokyo
Opening hours: 1100 to 1600 (Sundays of the first and third week of every month)
Admission fee: 500 yen (adult), 300 yen (student)
Getting there: A 3-minute walk from Hino-shuku Honjin
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