This museum was built in memory of Setsuro Takahashi, a leading exponent of modern Japanese urushi lacquer craftsmanship. One of the central design themes is the harmony between the rural landscape and culture of the Azumino region in which Takahashi was born and raised. The recreation within the museum grounds of the private home of an artist from the middle Edo period is part of a reconfiguration of the museum that incorporated a structured visitor course integrated with the new annex, giving the complex a new lease of life. By utilizing the distinctive features of the old and new structures, the museum has been able to provide visitors with additional value.