As you step into the Central Hall, which serves as the exhibition space for the giant taiko drums, the imposing sight of the drums lined up in a row immediately catches your eye.

Among the giant taiko drums currently on display, there are six that exceed 2 meters in diameter—including one registered in the Guinness World Records.The largest one, from Kamimachi, has a diameter of 3.8 meters and weighs 3.5 metric tons. More than 140 drums collected from 40 countries around the world are also on display, and there are many that visitors can actually try playing.

The “Tsuzuri-ko Grand Drum Festival” (held on July 14 and 15), said to have been held for about 700 years, starts from the Grand Drum Museum, so this is also a must-see.

Audio guides introducing the long-standing Grand Drum Festival and the exhibits have also been introduced.If you have a smartphone, you can listen to commentary not only in Japanese but also in English and Chinese. Since the commentary is also displayed in text, people with hearing impairments can easily learn about the exhibits at the Odaiko Museum.

Related Event: Tsuzuri Shrine Annual Grand Festival

Related Event: Kitaakita City Takanosu Taiko Festival