🗺️ Kuji Amber Museum久慈琥珀博物館

The Kuji Amber Museum is located in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, a famous amber-producing area, and is the only museum in Japan dedicated to the theme of amber. The amber from Kuji dates back to the Late Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 90 million years ago during the time of the dinosaurs, and is said to be the earliest amber used for gemstone decorations in the world. The history of amber extraction in Kuji is quite long, with a trade route known as the "Amber Road" established during Japan's Kofun period, which transported amber to the Yamato court. The museum consists of a new building and the main building, surrounded by dense forests. The new building, the "Experiential Amber Museum," features many interactive displays where visitors can experience the mysteries of amber through viewing, touching, and participating in craft-making activities. Among these are three-dimensional models recreating the landscape of Kuji from 90 million years ago and an "Amber Laboratory" where various experiments using amber are conducted. The main building, the "Exhibition Hall," introduces the process of amber formation in Kuji, along with related historical and cultural information, and showcases various precious exhibits centered around Kuji's insect-containing amber. The museum also offers various amber-related experiential activities. Visitors can participate in activities such as excavating amber from layers dating back to the dinosaur era (from late April to November), and under the guidance of staff, they can experience hand-cutting amber and making accessories like magatama and pendants.

You can see traces of the tunnels that were once used to mine amber. Inside the museum, the "Kuji Amber Main Store" gathers amber from around the world, making it the store with the most varieties of amber in Japan. There is also a "Lithuania Pavilion" that introduces the culture and products of the Republic of Lithuania (which is famous for its abundant amber). The excavation experience activity is very popular, and fossils of Tyrannosaurus rex have been discovered during these experiences.