Fossa Magna Museum This museum introduces the history and the structure of the earth through stones. It is divided into several sections. The 'Birth of the earth' section, for example, tells us about the earth of 4.6 billion years ago through meteorites and rocks. Fossil animals and plants from ancient times and minerals with a beautiful shine are displayed in the section, 'Captivating stones.' 'Evolution of the earth' allows us to examine the geological features of Japan through the rocks mined from the fault of Fossa Magna and jade from Itoigawa. Since they use lighting, panel displays and audio-visual effects, you should take notice of their fully worked-out exhibition. Admission: 500 yen / Open 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays (closed on Tuesdays when Monday falls on a national holiday) / 0255-53-1880 10 min. by car from Itoigawa Station

Tanimura Art Museum / Gyokusui-en The works of Sawada Seiko, the greatest of all sculptors of Buddhist images, who received the Order of Cultural Merit in 1979, are exhibited in this museum. The exhibits include a seated statue of Buddha with a noble expression and a tall, bright colored statue with a height of 2 meters 48 centimeters. The building that reminds us of a stone cave along the Silk Road is also a feature of the museum. It is the last work of the great architect, Murano Togo, who also received the Order of Cultural Merit in 1967. The inside of the building is composed of curved surfaces and the space creates a fantasy-like atmosphere. Gyokusui-en, a Japanese garden with a stream and a waterfall, is also on the site. Admission: 500 yen (for both the museum and the garden), 800 yen (including admission to Hisui-en) / Open 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed December - February / 0255-52-9277 7 min. by car from Itoigawa Station

Chojaga-hara Archaeological Museum To the south of Itoigawa Station past Hokuriku Highway is a hilly area called Chojaga-hara ruins. As a result of excavation, many things, such as tools for processing jade and jade beads, which indicate the fact that the processing of jade was carried out in this area, were found along with earthenware and stone tools. The museum exhibits earthenware, stone tools, jadeite and many other things excavated not only from the Chojaga-hara ruins but also from other sites in the city. Admission: 200 yen / Open 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays (closed on Tuesdays when Monday falls on a national holiday) / 0255-53-1900 10 min. by car from Itoigawa Station

Itoigawa City History and Folklore Museum (Gyohu Soma Memorial Museum) The materials of the excavated items from the Chojaga-hara ruins and jade are exhibited. They also house and exhibit the books written by Soma Gyohu, a local writer, and his collection of Ryokan's (a poet and a Buddhist priest in the late Yedo period) writings. Admission: 300 yen / Open 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays (closed on Tuesdays when Monday falls on a national holiday) / 0255-52-7471 10 min. walk from Itoigawa Station

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