SHOJIRO ISHIBASHI MEMORIAL MUSEUM
The museum will be reborn on February 14, 2026.
Renovated exhibition hall concept
The Shojiro Ishibashi Memorial Museum, Japan’s only public facility dedicated to honoring Shojiro Ishibashi (the founder of Bridgestone), opened alongside Kurume City Art Museum in 2016.
In preparation for its 10th anniversary, we will fully renew the facilities and exhibits starting from Friday, August 1, 2025 and reopen the museum on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
We sincerely appreciate your understanding during the closure.
You may have noticed at the entrance of the Culture Center the word “For the welfare and happiness of all mankind.” I hope that the citizens of Kurume will benefit by the facilities available in high art, music, cinema, sports and gardening, and so attain not only a happier, peaceful, active and brighter social life, but also a harmonious family life. Also, I hope it may lead to popularization of wholesome recreation and physical development of young people. Therefore, my fervent wish is that this center will prove to be a contributory factor in the development of Kurume City to a modern cultural city.
From Greeting at the opening of the Ishibashi Cultural Center
(April 1956)
Shojiro Ishibashi
Shojiro Ishibashi was born in Kurume City of Fukuoka Prefecture in 1889. When just 17, he inherited the family business of tailoring and by creating rubber‐soled socks and producing rubber shoes, managed to expand the business into a national orporation. In 1931, he founded Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. (current Bridgestone Corporation), succeeded in producing automotive tires domestically and developed the company into a business embodying Japan. Meanwhile, since his youth, he had also worked on many cultural projects, including helping to establish the Kyushu Medical School (current Kurume University) (1928), founding the Bridgestone Museum of Art (current the Artizon Museum)(1952), constructing and donating to the Ishibashi Cultural Center (1956), constructing and donating to the Japanese pavilion at the Venice Biennale (1956), donating a new building to the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Arts (1969) as well as making a number of other donations.His words, “For the welfare and happiness of all mankind.”, reflect Shojiro’s lifelong convictions, having contributed to society through his business management and cultural projects.
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Temporary closure for renovation
The Shojiro Ishibashi Memorial Museum will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026. In preparation for this milestone, the museum will be closed for renovations from Friday, August 1, 2025 through Friday, February 13, 2026. We apologize for any inconvenience this extended closure may cause and appreciate your understanding.
The Shojiro Ishibashi Memorial Museum will reopen on Saturday, February 14, 2026 with even more comprehensive content. We look forward to seeing you there. -
Access
1015, Nonaka-machi, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka 839-0862, Japan
- By air :
- About 50 minutes via Nishitetsu Highway Bus from Fukuoka Airport to Nishitetsu Kurume Station
- Train :
- 20 minutes by Shinkansen or 40 minutes by rapid train from JR Hakata Station to JR Kurume Station.
30 minutes by limited express or 40 minutes by express train from Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station to Nishitetsu Kurume Station - Bus :
- About 15 minutes from JR Kurume Station, about 5 minutes from Nishitetsu Kurume Station.
Nishitetsu Bus, Routes 1, 7, 8, 9, 20, 22, 25 Get off at “Bunka Center Mae” - On foot :
- About 10 minutes from Nishitetsu Kurume Station.
- By car :
- About 10 minutes from Kurume Interchange. Paid parking available. Cost 200 yen up to the first two hours and 100 yen for each additional 30 minutes.
500 yen per bus when passengers enter the Center (booking required)
