Fossa Magna Museum

Step inside and you’re quickly drawn into the story of the Fossa Magna (Latin for “great trench”), a major rift in the earth closely tied to the formation of the Japanese archipelago.

Across six exhibition rooms, the displays guide you through how the land around Itoigawa was formed, in chronological order—covering jade, the continental era, the birth of the Japanese islands and the Fossa Magna, and the ever-changing earth (volcanoes, earthquakes, and natural resources). In particular, the learning section featuring powerful footage on a 200-inch screen lets you experience the dynamic forces of our planet.

Itoigawa, where the museum is located, is known as one of the world’s leading—and oldest—jade-producing areas. Inside, you’ll find a collection of beautifully lustrous raw jade stones on display. The fifth and sixth exhibition rooms also feature fossils, minerals, and meteorites from around the world, showcasing the striking beauty of forms created by nature. Don’t miss the oddly shaped ammonite Nipponites, named after Japan.