Fossa Magna Museum

Really interesting museum all about Itoigawa's geology

If you've heard of Itoigawa before, you may have heard it in the context of Itoigawa jade. This part of Niigata is famous for the precious stone, and at the Fossa Magna Museum you can learn a bit more about it, along with more info about the area's geology, the movement of tectonic plates and how Japan was created, and more. My kids really liked this museum too, as there were a number of interactive exhibits. I always appreciate the hands-on aspect that keeps kids (and adults, to be frank!) enthralled. Adult admission is 500 yen, but anyone aged 18 or under gets free admission -- so it ends up being a pretty economical museum visit. Another nice thing is that all the exhibits have English explanations!