# Verkehr Museum

> art museum in Shizuoka City, Japan

**Wikidata**: [Q102427225](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102427225)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/verkehr-museum

## Summary
The Verkehr Museum (also known as Verkehr Shimizu Port Terminal Museum of Art and 清水港湾博物館) is an art museum and maritime museum located in Shizuoka City, Japan. Situated in the Shimizu-ku district at the port area, it focuses on themes of ports and ships. The museum was incorporated on July 20, 1978, and officially opened its doors on May 3, 1991.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Art museum and maritime museum
- **Location:** 2-8-11 Minatochō, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City, Japan
- **Coordinates:** 35.007583°N, 138.493361°E
- **Date of Incorporation:** July 20, 1978
- **Date of Official Opening:** May 3, 1991
- **Floors Above Ground:** 2
- **Names:** Verkehr Museum, Verkehr Shimizu Port Terminal Museum of Art, Shimizu Port Terminal Museum of Art, 清水港湾博物館, 一般財団法人清水港湾博物館
- **Named After:** The German word "transport"
- **Main Subjects:** Port and Ship
- **ISIL:** JP-2002494
- **NDL Authority ID:** 00846233
- **BabelNet ID:** 26700616n
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/1wz52sdb
- **TripAdvisor ID:** 1656560
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID:** 1420993481
- **Website:** https://www.suzuyo.co.jp/suzuyo/verkehr/ (in Japanese)
- **Social Media:** Twitter @verkehrmuseum (since April 22, 2016), Facebook @verhakubutsukan, Instagram @vermuseum, Threads @vermuseum
- **Member Of:** Japanese Liaison Council of History and Folk Museums
- **Wikipedia Languages:** Japanese, Commons
- **Sitelink Count:** 2

## FAQs

**What does "Verkehr" mean and why is the museum named this?**
The museum is named after the German word for "transport," reflecting its thematic focus on maritime transportation, ports, and ships.

**Where exactly is the Verkehr Museum located?**
The museum is located at 2-8-11 Minatochō, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City, Japan, within the active Shimizu Port Terminal area at coordinates 35.007583°N, 138.493361°E.

**What type of museum is the Verkehr Museum?**
It is classified as both an art museum and a maritime museum, combining artistic exhibitions with maritime themes focused on ports and ships.

**When was the Verkehr Museum established and opened?**
The museum was incorporated on July 20, 1978, and officially opened to the public on May 3, 1991.

**What organizations is the Verkehr Museum affiliated with?**
The museum is a member of the Japanese Liaison Council of History and Folk Museums, connecting it to a national network of cultural preservation institutions.

## Why It Matters
The Verkehr Museum represents a unique intersection of art and maritime heritage in Japan. As a dual-purpose institution functioning as both an art museum and maritime museum, it serves the cultural and educational needs of the Shizuoka region while preserving and showcasing the rich maritime history of Shimizu Port. The museum's German-inspired name reflects the international character of port cities and their historical connections to global trade and cultural exchange. Its location within a functioning port terminal creates an authentic context for its exhibitions on ports and ships, allowing visitors to experience maritime art and history in situ. The institution's membership in the Japanese Liaison Council of History and Folk Museums positions it within a broader network of cultural preservation institutions across Japan, contributing to the national effort to document and celebrate regional heritage.

## Notable For
- **Dual Classification:** Functions as both an art museum and maritime museum, a rare combination that bridges artistic expression and maritime heritage
- **German Etymology:** Named using the German word for "transport," reflecting the international character of port culture
- **Port Terminal Location:** Strategically situated within Shimizu Port Terminal, providing authentic maritime context for its exhibitions
- **Thematic Focus:** Dedicated to the subjects of ports and ships, serving as a specialized repository for maritime art and culture
- **Long Institutional History:** Incorporated in 1978 with 13 years of development before its official opening in 1991
- **Regional Cultural Role:** Serves as a cultural anchor for the Shimizu-ku district and broader Shizuoka City area

## Body

### Identity and Naming
The Verkehr Museum operates under several names reflecting its multilingual and institutional character. Its primary designation is Verkehr Museum, while alternative names include Verkehr Shimizu Port Terminal Museum of Art, Shimizu Port Terminal Museum of Art, 清水港湾博物館, and the formal organizational title 一般財団法人清水港湾博物館. The name "Verkehr" derives from the German word for "transport," directly connecting the institution's identity to its thematic focus on maritime transportation and mobility.

### Location and Physical Characteristics
The museum is situated at 2-8-11 Minatochō, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City, Japan, positioned within the active Shimizu Port Terminal area. Its precise geographic coordinates are 35.007583°N latitude and 138.493361°E longitude. The building features two floors above ground level, providing exhibition space for its collections and displays. The port terminal location creates an immersive environment where visitors can engage with maritime art while surrounded by actual port operations and vessels.

### Institutional History
The museum's institutional timeline spans over a decade from conception to public opening. The organization was officially incorporated on July 20, 1978, establishing the foundation for the museum's development. After approximately 13 years of planning and construction, the Verkehr Museum held its official opening ceremony on May 3, 1991. This extended development period suggests significant investment in creating a specialized facility capable of serving dual functions as both an art exhibition space and maritime heritage center.

### Collections and Thematic Focus
As an institution classified as both an art museum and maritime museum, the Verkehr Museum centers its collections and exhibitions on two primary subjects: ports and ships. This thematic focus aligns with its physical location within Shimizu Port, one of Japan's significant maritime hubs. As an art museum, it serves as a building or space dedicated to the exhibition of art, housing works of art as collections within its facility.

### Organizational Affiliations
The Verkehr Museum maintains membership in the Japanese Liaison Council of History and Folk Museums, connecting it to a broader network of cultural institutions across Japan dedicated to preserving historical and folk heritage. This membership positions the museum within the national framework of museum coordination and collaboration, facilitating knowledge exchange and cooperative programming with similar institutions throughout the country.

### Digital Presence and Accessibility
The museum maintains an active digital footprint across multiple platforms. Its official website operates at https://www.suzuyo.co.jp/suzuyo/verkehr/ and is presented in Japanese. Social media channels include a Twitter account (@verkehrmuseum) active since April 22, 2016, with Twitter ID 723356847625764864, a Facebook page (@verhakubutsukan), an Instagram account (@vermuseum), and a Threads username (@vermuseum). The museum's visual documentation is available through the Wikimedia Commons category "Verkehr Shimizu Port Terminal Museum," and its image is accessible via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Verkehr_Shimizu_Port_Terminal_Museum_02.jpg.

### Cataloging and Authority Records
The Verkehr Museum is registered in multiple national and international bibliographic and authority systems. Its ISIL (International Standard Identifier for Libraries) is JP-2002494, assigned by the National Diet Library of Japan with reference to the foundation's official records. The NDL Authority ID is 00846233, and the institution is cataloged in the BabelNet database under ID 26700616n. Additional identifiers include Google Knowledge Graph ID /g/1wz52sdb, TripAdvisor ID 1656560, and OpenStreetMap Node ID 1420993481. The museum's Wikipedia presence spans two language versions (Japanese and Commons), with a total sitelink count of 2.

### Geographic and National Context
The museum is located in Japan, an island country in East Asia with a population of approximately 125 million people. Japan operates as a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy with Tokyo as its capital. The country uses the Japanese Yen (JPY) as currency, drives on the left side of the road, and operates in the Japan Standard Time zone (UTC+09:00). The museum's location in Shizuoka City places it within a region known for its proximity to Mount Fuji and its significant maritime commercial activity.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.ndl.go.jp/jp/library/isil/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2024/11/06/isil_museums_20241106_J.csv)
2. [Source](https://www.verkehr-museum.jp/guide/principle.html)
3. [Source](https://rekimin.com/place)