Niigata Prefectural Museum of History

It is a huge history museum with a total area of 10,000 m2. The permanent exhibits are divided into five exhibition halls: “Course of Niigata’s History”, “Life in Snow Country”, “Making Rice”, “World of the Jomon” and “Exploring Jomon Culture”.

What sets this museum apart are the realistic, life-size dioramas. In the "Life in Snow Country" section, visitors can see a recreation of a street called "Gangi-dori" in Takada, one of the world's heaviest snowfall areas. The gangi are long arcade-like structures made of rows of stores and private houses, each with its own eaves to provide passage when it snows, and are said to have originated in Niigata Prefecture.

Nagaoka City, where the museum is located, is the home of flaming earthenware from the Jomon period. During the Jomon period, from about 15,000 to 2,500 years ago, people settled in the area while hunting and gathering. The diorama reproducing the Jomon people's lifestyle in spring, summer, fall, and winter is a highlight of the museum. In the "Exploring Jomon Culture" exhibit, visitors are overwhelmed by the wall-to-wall display of Jomon pottery. Visitors can learn about the latest findings of Jomon research.

At the adjoining restaurant, “Suisei (Comet)”, visitors can enjoy a menu featuring Niigata agricultural products such as tare-katsu-don (pork cutlet served on top of a bowl of rice) and maitake soba (buckwheat noodles with maitake mushrooms). Gelato (not available in winter) is also popular for its delicious taste.