Kanazawa Phonograph Museum

In the days before CDs, MP3s, iPods and streaming, there was the phonograph. Invented by Thomas Edison, phonographs were the most commonly used devices for playing music from the 1870s all the way through to the 1980s - quite an impressive run when you think about it! The Kanazawa Phonograph Museum showcases some of their history, along with over 500 actual phonographs on display.

The museum is spread out over three floors, with numerous opportunities to experience and learn about phonograph music. The listening corner is a popular spot with visitors, where you can pick from a variety of LP records to play -- and with a collection of over 20,000 of them to choose from, there's bound to be something to suit your musical tastes. There are also phonograph demonstrations which are held three times a day at 11 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm, so try to stick around and catch one of those.

Alongside all of the permanent exhibits at the museum here, there are special events held on a regular basis. Jazz performances and piano concerts are just a couple of examples that have taken place in the last month alone. These events usually have a limited number of seats available, so keep an eye on the museum's website for details if you plan on visiting.

The museum opens from 10 am to 5.30 pm daily, with last admissions taken at 5 pm sharp.