Kanagawa Prefectural Museum, Yokohama-Shi

The museum occupies the former Yokohama Specie Bank building which was built in 1904. It features a neoclassical facade with carvings designated as important cultural property. This is the place to learn about the history of Yokohama and Kanagawa, from archeology to present-day Japan. Interesting are the grotesque renditions of Commodore Matthew C. Perry and the several rare wood block prints of foreigners. The Edo period wood blocks are supplemented with panels showing pop culture, travel games and torture mechanisms! The various items provide insight into the complex relationship between Japan and other nations.