Izumi: Museums, Archaeology and History

When looking for hotels in Izumi, you can also consider the themes that shape your stay. The museums and archaeological sites in Izumi-shi showcase art collections, local history and archaeological evidence; Komyo Pond adds irrigation and landscape to the picture. Museums, a settlement site and a burial mound each offer a different perspective on these themes. Their differences can help you tailor your stay to your own interests.

Museums: Art and Local History

The Kuboso Memorial Museum of Arts in Izumi-shi holds around 12,000 works of ancient Oriental art, including two National Treasures and 29 Important Cultural Properties. These collection figures may change over time. The Kuboso Memorial Museum of Arts in Izumi-shi plans to hold four to five exhibitions each year featuring works from its collection, as well as one special exhibition of its own. The Izumi-no-kuni History Museum in Izumi-shi takes a different approach: its permanent exhibition features archaeological finds, local historical documents and ethnographic materials; special and rotating exhibitions are held several times a year. Two differences are useful when choosing: the subject matter—art versus local history and folklore—and the programme—an annual exhibition plan versus formats that change several times a year. If current exhibitions are important to your plans, check each museum’s programme before visiting.

Archaeological Evidence

The Ikegami-Sone Site in Izumi-shi is a large Yayoi-period settlement surrounded by a moat. Its centre lies in the Ikegami-chō district of Izumi-shi; it is designated a Historic Site of Japan. The surrounding moat defines the settlement’s character and distinguishes it from a burial monument. One such monument is the Izumi Koganezuka Kofun in Uedaichō, Izumi-shi: a 94-metre-long keyhole-shaped burial mound from the late first half of the Kofun period, also designated a Historic Site of Japan. The designation and measurement offer two specific points of comparison: the settlement layout on one hand, and the mound’s shape and length on the other.

Pond, Landscape and Park

Komyo Pond was completed in 1936 and irrigates around 250 hectares of rice fields across the four municipalities of Izumi-shi, Sakai, Izumiotsu and Takaishi. Its storage capacity is 3.7 million tonnes, making it one of the largest in Kansai. The area figure refers to the rice fields irrigated, while the volume refers to the pond’s storage capacity; this keeps the irrigated area distinct from the amount of water stored. The landscape around the pond was included in the “Osaka Green 100” selection in Osaka Prefecture in 1989. This designation concerns the broader regional landscape and should be distinguished from the pond’s technical irrigation function. The year 1936 marks the pond’s completion; 1989, by contrast, refers to its landscape’s selection.

Kurotoriyama Park in Izumi-shi features flower beds with seasonal blooms, a waterside deck and a combination play structure with a cherry blossom motif. During cherry blossom season, the park is a popular hanami spot each year; local residents use it as a seasonal place to relax. The play structure’s cherry blossom motif reflects the seasonal theme in its design.

Discover more destinations: Tannowa, Shijonawate, Habikino, Sakai, Ikeda, Misaki, Kanan, Tondabayashi

For the broader travel overview: Osaka Prefecture.