Museum / Science Museum Spots in Nagano Area

Area

Nagano
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Category

Leisure / Hobbies

Leisure / Outdoors

Museum / Science Museum

Matsumoto City Museum of Art

3.5

122 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Marunouchi 4-1

This is a municipal museum on the grounds of Matsumoto Castle in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, exhibiting items related to the history and folk customs of the area. It introduces the history of the castle and the castle town from their origin to the modern day. There are also materials which convey information and allow visitors to learn about local lifestyles and customs including raised cloth pictures, star festival dolls, travelers’ guardian deity and an aging ceremony. One important highlight is the Edo period waterworks discovered during an archaeological dig.

The Matsumoto City Museum covers three floors of a building adjacent to the castle grounds. It is different from many city museums in that it includes some early history of the city and area. It is...
Matsumoto Timepiece Museum

4.0

130 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Chuou 1-21-15

This museum displays a wide range of timepieces centering on a collection donated by antique timepiece researcher Chikazo Honda. The museum has a policy of displaying each timepiece in its collection (which contains more than 1,000 items) in working condition whenever possible. The museum also exhibits a number of phonographs, which have a deep connection to the history of timepieces. The museum is notable for the massive pendulum clock, one of Japan's largest, which is built into the front of the building. The museum is a 10-minute walk from JR Matsumoto Station.

If you are curious about technology or history this is a fascinating museum. Who knew the Egyptians invented the hourglass as an advance over water to tell time. There were candles for predetermined...
Sanada Treasure Museum

4.0

93 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Matsushiromachi Matsushiro 4-1

The Sanada Treasure Museum opened in 1966 to display the various battle articles and furniture handed over by the 12th-generation head of the Sanada household, Koji Sanada. Among the exhibited items are the “Aoe war sword,” considered an Important Cultural Property, the “Nobori Hashigo armor used by Masayuki Sanada, documents from Takeda Shingen, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ishida Mitsunari, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, and more for a collection of about 50,000 articles total. Exhibitions are rotated four times a year, and there are workshops and other experiences as well. It’s about 10 minutes from the Nagano Interchange on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway.

We followed the advice from other posters. We took the #30 Bus from the JR Nagano Station busstop #3. About 30 min and 650 Yen later we arrived at the transit center and walked about two blocks to...
Togariishi Museum of Jomon Archaeology

4.5

65 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Chino-shi Toyohira 4734-132

This museum is located inside the Togaishi Ruins, a historic site and park which is considered one of the best examples of Jomon culture sites found at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains. The museum displays around 2,000 artefacts created by the Jomon people, who flourished here 5,000 years ago. The area at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains is the location of one of the largest caches of obsidian, a material used to make stone tools, in Japan, and it is believed the Jomon people flourished here due to the forests which grew here and provided broadleaf tree seeds as well as ample deer, wild boar, and river fish hunting. The museum's Jomon Venus, a deformed depiction of a pregnant woman; and Masked Goddess statue are valuable cultural properties which have been designated National Treasures.

I went there after seeing the English website and being super excited about getting to do some hands-on craft. After extensive web research, I managed to get there on a day they were open and...
Lake Nojiri Naumann Elephant Museum

3.5

45 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Kamiminochigunshinanomachi Nojiri 287-5

A museum located in Shinano Town, Kamiminochi County, Nagano Prefecture. The museum exhibits materials relating to the natural environment in the Lake Nojiri area from pre-history up to today, with a focus on items discovered through the excavations of the lake which have been ongoing since 1962. The highlights of the museum are its life-sized replicas of a fossilized Naumann’s elephant and a giant Japanese elk skeleton. The museum also has an abundant collection of bone and stone tools, and even an exhibit where visitors can touch real fossils. The museum holds mini workshops and special events as well, such as a short class on stone tool-making.

I didnt spend enough time in Nojiri Lake else I would do the elephant walk. I didnt know what to expect from this museum. As I entered the glass door, there was this elderly woman sitting behind...
Matsumoto Mingei-kan (Matsumoto Folkcraft Museum)

4.0

44 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Matsumotoshi Satoyamabe 1313-1

Matsumoto Mingei-kan is a folk craft museum located about 15 minutes by car from the center of Matsumoto City. Taro Maruyama, the owner of a folk craft shop, founded the museum in 1962. The museum houses a collection of about 6,000 artifacts of the Mingei movement from the Taisho period (1912–1926) which introduces the idea of “beauty of necessaries” in daily necessities used for handwork in everyday life. In 1983 the building was donated to Matsumoto City and now it is an integral part of the Matsumoto City Museum.

Im a huge fan of Japanese folk art (mingei), and Ive been to my share of folkcraft museums in Japan. This one had some really interesting objects but I could only look and wonder what they were. I...
Ueda City Museum

3.5

49 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Uedashi Ninomaru 3-3 (in Ueda Castle Ruins Park)

This is a museum that stands at the ruins of Ninomaru in Ueda castle ruins. Inside the museum visitors can see Oda Nobunaga’s leather armor and Someya Yaki pottery designated as national important cultural properties, as well as drawings of Shinano Province from the Shoho era (1644–), designated as prefectural treasures. Archives showing the history of the Ueda region since the Middle Ages, material on nature, folk material and so on are collected and displayed.

上田で最も人気のある真田氏に関しては別館でじっくり展示されており、本館は仙石氏および松平氏の上田城城主、および近代史がメインです。上田城の櫓とセットで500円は安いですね。今年も上田の祇園祭がコロナにより中止となり、代わりに祇園祭とは何かを本館で解説していました。上田わっしょいは開催、京都の祇園祭も開催、でも上田の祇園祭は中止。解せません。
Tanaka Honke Museum

4.0

32 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Prefecture Suzaka-shi Kurincho 476

This is a museum in Kokumachi Town, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, using the house of the Tanaka merchant family who amassed great wealth in the Edo period through grain, rapeseed oil, tobacco, cotton and brewing. In the 10,000 square meter plot around the stone storehouse are the former main building, reception hall and bathing room, and the strolling garden with central pond is beautiful in all seasons. In the stone storehouse exhibition room is a permanent exhibit of the daily goods used by the Tanaka family from the middle of the Edo period into the Showa period, and there are special exhibitions held five times a year.

The Edo-Style 5 course meal was the most incredible blend of flavors and exquisite taste my husband and I ever experienced! We traveled to Suzaka after our trip to Nagano and got to experience the...
Omachi Alpine Museum

4.0

30 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Omachishi Omachi 8056-1

The Omachi Alpine Museum, located in Omachi, Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, opened in 1951 as Japan’s first museum dedicated to mountains. In addition to introducing the wildlife and history of the Hida Mountains, the museum also holds exhibitions on the symbiosis between mountain-top ecosystems and people. At the attached zoo facility, Hida Mountain wildlife like Japanese serows and owls are kept; an exhibit featuring ptarmigans, a designated National Special Monument, reopened in 2016. The facility is a popular place to view rare mountain animals.

Very modern inside. Most of the signs were Japanese only, but it was still possible to figure out the gist of the displays (we were one non-speaker and one beginner-speaker). Especially liked the...
Okaya Silk Museum (Silk Fact Okaya)

4.5

17 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Okayashi Gouda 1-4-8

"This silk museum is in Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture lets you learn about the history of silk and more. It also has a silk reeling studio that's open to visitors. Stop by the Mayu-chan Kobo workshop to try your hand at ""cocoon crafts"" and hand weaving. The museum is popular with locals and tourists alike."

こちらは《シルク岡谷の絹産業遺産（近代化産業遺産群）》全15件中 No10&12...
Oshika Median Tectonic Line Museum

4.5

16 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Shimoina-gun Oshikamura Okawara 988

This museum has exhibits on the Median Tectonic Line. It's the largest fault line in Japan running along the western half of the Japanese archipelago from Kanto to Kyushu. It's almost directly below Mt. Akaishi and the main peaks of the southern Alps near Shizuoka's prefectural border. Though it runs overland for 1,000 kilometers, this is one of the rare portions where you can observe a fault outcrop and other unique geological features. The curator will take the time to explain in detail everything from the creation of the Japanese islands to the geology of earthquakes.

地学・地理学の，地形・地質・岩石などに興味がある人のための博物館。かなり力の入った展示だが，大量の展示品と，大量の解説に，辟易する。パンフレットも，ぎゅうぎゅうに，つめて書いてある。ガイドによる解説がない場合，基礎知識がないと，あるいは知的好奇心がないと，居続けるのは，きつい。実際，ほぼ同時に入館した２組は，さっさと出て行った。予約しておけば，解説に人気のある，前館長が説明してくれる...
Japan Ski Museum

4.0

23 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Shimotakai-gun Nozawaonsenmura Toyosato 8270

The museum entry cost less thn $3 Aussie. If your a ski nerd and interested in competitive snow sports it is definitely worth a visit. The downside is that there are no English translations for the...
Japanese Light Museum

3.5

24 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Kamitakaigunobusemachi Obuse 973

This museum, focusing on Japanese lights and lighting, is located in the center of Obuse Town. Centering around the Kitashinano and Surrounding Area Lamp—Masami Kanebako Lamp Collection, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, the museum displays a variety of works and crafts connected with lamps, lights, and lighting. The museum also offers a candle-making workshop (advance reservation required).

小布施駅から周辺を散策して寄りました。様々な灯火具があり昔の生活を思いできそうだ浮かべる事ができ現在の明るい生活のありがたさを再認識できました◯
Prince & Skyline Museum

4.5

17 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Okayashi Uchiyama 4769-14 In Toriihee Yamabiko Park

This Nissan Skyline museum is in Toriidaira Yamabiko Park in Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture. It has exhibits on the automobile maker's Skyline model, including various parts. Events like talk shows are held several times a year, and lots of car fans visit since the museum's considered sacred ground for the Skyline. It is open from mid-April to mid-November and closes for the winter.

This little museum is packed with a remarkable collection of pertinent historical vehicles. From the Winning Calsonic Skyline GTR to early Prince vehicles, even a factory cutaway of the R32 skyline...
Nagano Prefectural Museum of History

4.0

9 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Chikumashi Yashiro 260 - 6 Ueno no Sato Historical park

The Nagano Prefectural Museum of History mainly collects, repairs, and stores buried cultural properties and documents of historical value that contain research and such related to Nagano Prefecture’s history. The exhibits teach visitors about both old and modern ways of life, and there are many special exhibits as well that disseminate a lot of historical information. They also host lectures on archaeology and ancient documents. It’s about a 25-minute walk from Yashiro Station and Yashirokoko-mae Station on the Shinano Railway, or five minutes by car from the Koshoku Interchange on the Nagano Expressway.

千曲市にある長野県の歴史がよくわかる博物館です。常設展は大人１人３００円でしたが、お金以上に見ごたえがありました。古代から近代まで、ジオラマ展示が多く子供にもわかりやすいと思います。
Komagane Silk Museum

4.0

16 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Komaganeshi Higashina 482

"This silkworm and silk museum is located in Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture. In the permanent exhibition on the first floor, they exhibit the history of silk and the process of weaving raw silk. In addition, there is an experiential workshop where you can come into contact with silk, and you can have various experiences such as ""cocoon crafts."" On the second floor, there is a museum shop, all-you-can-eat restaurant and other facilities, making it a place to enjoy yourself all day long."

孫娘たちと駒ヶ根に行った折に立ち寄った。久しぶりに繭を見た。孫娘たちは、はしゃぎながら創作に取り組んでいた。
Oborozukiyo no Yakata Hanzan Bunko

4.0

15 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Shimotakaigunnozawaonsenmura Toyosato 9549-6

This memorial hall in Toyosato, Nozawaonsen Village is dedicated to Takano Tatsuyuki, renowned lyricist known for such songs as “Kokyo (Hometown),” “Haru ga Kita (Spring is Here),” and “Oborozuki Yo (Moonlit Night).” You can view such articles as his drafts, letters, paintings and writings, and more. Shiko Munakata, Masaaki Tanaka, Shiro Kasamatsu’s works are also stored here and showcased during special exhibitions. There’s also a cafe, museum shop, and carillon that plays Takano Tatsuyuki’s songs at regular intervals.

温泉の合間にいきました。観光にはぴったりです。野沢温泉はとても小さな集落ですのでどの旅館からも徒歩圏内です。
Togakushi Soba Museum Tonkururin

4.0

13 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Togakushi 3018

This is an activity-based museum in Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, where one can learn about the famous Togakushi Soba through buckwheat pounding and the displayed articles. In the hour-long pounding experience a soba expert carefully teaches participants the process from kneading buckwheat flower to cutting the noodles into thin strips. It is possible to take home the noodles one has made or eat them there in the building. The museum uses models and real articles to introduce Togakushi soba history and culture in an easy-to-understand way. There is a free-to-use 50-meter-tall slide on the viewing platform, making it a popular place for children too.

トイレを探していた時に「そば打ち道場」という看板が目に入って、昼時だったので寄ってみました。生徒さんが打ったそばなのか麺の太さがバラバラで茹で上がった硬さもマチマチだったのが印象的でした。食事の支払いが売店の方でクレジットカードで支払いさせて貰えたのは好印象。
Nagano City Museum

4.0

13 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Oshimadamachi 1414

This museum is located in a corner of Hachimanpara Shiseki Park, the scene of the Battles of Kawanakajima. The comprehensive museum exhibits materials related to areas such as geology, history and ethnology. The permanent exhibit introduces the history of the Nagano Basin and from the stone age to the Middle Ages and later with videos, ceramics and other items They also hold various kinds of special exhibitions. With even a planetarium, you can learn about astronomy as well.

[善光寺]の近くにある[ちょっ蔵おいらい館（国登録有形文化財、元油問屋三河屋庄左衛門商店）]を訪問した際スタッフの方からこちらに 1/10模型（添付写真参照）が展示されており江戸時代後期の姿[弘化大地震(1847)直後の建築物]を知ることが出来ると聞き入館しました。 2022年9月23日-11月20日[煌びやかなお嫁入り...
Komoro Municipal Komoro Gijuku Memorial Museum

3.5

13 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Nagano Pref. Komoroshi Kojou 2-1-8

Komoro Municipal Komoro Gijuku Memorial Museum was the restored and reconstructed form of the “Komoro Private School,” which was founded in 1893 by Christian minister Kumaji Kimura. It is located across from the old school grounds that were in Kaikoen Park near Komoro Station. You’ll find exhibitions featuring materials related to the educational institution, which was ahead of its time in terms of offering a modern education.

徴古館の裏手から少し上がった所にある施設です。明治中頃に設けられた私塾です。建物前には桜の木があって、桜の花がとても美しかったです。玄関でスリッパに履き替えて入室します。壁の四隅にある展示ケースや天井近くには当時の塾の歴史や塾で使われていた教科書、手紙・写真などが数多く展示されています。二階にも同様の資料が展示されていて、明治時代の人間教育の様子が直に伝わってきます。

Nagano

Around Nagano City Kita-Shinano Eastern Shinshu Hakuba / Azumino Kisoji Around Suwa Southern Shinshu

Leisure / Hobbies Leisure / Outdoors Museum / Science Museum

Nagano Areas

Nagano prefecture is an exciting mix of mountains, hot spring monkeys, and preserved Edo history. At the heart of the Japanese Alps, Nagano is one of the country’s most popular destinations, whether in winter for its snow sports and the much-loved Jigokudani Monkey Park or in the warmer months for discovering the undulating hills on foot. For fantastic Edo architecture, head to the Kiso Valley for a 60-kilometer stretch of quaint wooden buildings that marked the Nakasendo route 200 years ago.