🗺️ Niigata Prefectural Museum of History新潟県立歴史博物館

A large historical museum with a total area of 10,000 square meters. Inside, there are five permanent exhibition rooms: "The Journey of Niigata," "Snow Country Scenery," "Rice Cultivation Production and Culture," "Jomon People World," and "Exploration of Jomon Culture." The museum's feature is its lifelike three-dimensional models that recreate scenes at actual size. Notably, in the "Snow Country Scenery" section, the scene of the "Gangi Street" in the Takada area, one of the few heavy snowfall regions in the world, is recreated. Gangi refers to the covered walkways formed by extending the eaves of shops and houses to maintain accessibility during the snowy season, which is said to have originated in Niigata. The museum is located in Nagaoka City, which is also the site where Jomon period flame pottery was excavated. The Jomon period refers to the time from about 15,000 years ago to 2,500 years ago, when people lived a settled life through hunting and gathering. The vivid three-dimensional models depict the lives of Jomon people across the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The walls in the "Exploration of Jomon Culture" exhibition area display pottery from the Jomon period. By viewing these items, one can gain insight into the Jomon culture of ancient times. In the attached restaurant "Suisei," visitors can enjoy dishes made with agricultural products from Niigata Prefecture, such as Niigata sauce pork cutlet rice and maitake soba noodles. Additionally, the restaurant's Italian-style ice cream (not available in winter) is also very famous.

You can gain a complete understanding of the history of Niigata Prefecture. The three-dimensional model that perfectly reproduces the historical and environmental proportions is definitely worth seeing. You can also learn about the Jomon period, represented by flame pottery.