Minatopia Niigata City History Museum
Minatopia Niigata City History Museum
Minatopia Niigata City History Museum
4
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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4.0
94 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
41
Average
20
Poor
2
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メロパパ
Yokohama, Japan601 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
This museum was built using the design of the second Niigata City Hall.
Here, the history and folklore of Niigata are displayed in an easy-to-understand manner in the permanent and special exhibition rooms, with the theme of "Local water and the history of its people."
This is the "Niigata Hakusan Shrine Ofuna Ema" measuring 9 x 3.6m.
It depicts the loading of rice tax at Niigata Port, with Edo in the upper right and Osaka in the upper left.
Niigata has been a rice-producing region since ancient times.
This shows the "Kitamae ships."
Niigata Port was apparently a port on the sea route connecting Ezo, Tsugaru and the Kansai region.
This is a diorama of farming scenes from the past.
Before land improvement,
in rice fields where the water would not drain, people would wad up to their thighs in water and use small boats to harvest the rice.
Here, the history and folklore of Niigata are displayed in an easy-to-understand manner in the permanent and special exhibition rooms, with the theme of "Local water and the history of its people."
This is the "Niigata Hakusan Shrine Ofuna Ema" measuring 9 x 3.6m.
It depicts the loading of rice tax at Niigata Port, with Edo in the upper right and Osaka in the upper left.
Niigata has been a rice-producing region since ancient times.
This shows the "Kitamae ships."
Niigata Port was apparently a port on the sea route connecting Ezo, Tsugaru and the Kansai region.
This is a diorama of farming scenes from the past.
Before land improvement,
in rice fields where the water would not drain, people would wad up to their thighs in water and use small boats to harvest the rice.
Written 10 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mianel
Nijmegen, The Netherlands544 contributions
May 2011
It is worthwhile to visit the Minotopia museum area, loacated at the river, where in former times the harbour was located. Niigata was one of the five harbours through which Japan was connected to the rest of the world. In the area you will find the Niigata City Museum, the former Niigata Customs House, and the former Daishi Bank Sumiyoshi-cho Branch.
Written 3 June 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
darbz89
Beijing, China422 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
The buildings are beautiful! Kind of a colonial European vibe, and (for me) they’re especially pretty in the evening.
If I remember rightly, the entry fee was ¥300, which is perfectly reasonable. There’s quite a lot to see in the museum, but it is recommended to have some command of Japanese reading (or, as was the case with me, go with a friend who is willing to help).
If you want to learn more about Niigata City, it’s definitely worth a visit.
If I remember rightly, the entry fee was ¥300, which is perfectly reasonable. There’s quite a lot to see in the museum, but it is recommended to have some command of Japanese reading (or, as was the case with me, go with a friend who is willing to help).
If you want to learn more about Niigata City, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Written 28 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
peterfuchs2017
Tokyo, Japan41 contributions
Mar 2017 • Business
If you are staying at the Nikko or have to wait more than an hour for the Sado Kisen ferry, pop over to the History Museum right across the river. You learn Niigata was one of 4-5 targets for the atomic bomb - but you don't learn about the POW camps though.
Written 18 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mat_mak
Tokyo Prefecture, Japan6,040 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
It is a special area where historical buildings remain with history of Niigata City as an old international port in Japan. The former tax office, a building of a branch of a former major bank, the city museum and so on. Currently, the old tax office is under renovation work, so you can not enter the hall.
Written 10 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,719 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
This wonderful museum is one of the best I've been in worldwide that is devoted to city history. It emphasizes the coastal city's relationship with water and features four buildings. I spent my time here exploring the grounds and in the main three-story museum building, which was constructed to look like the second Niigata City Hall, built in 1911. None of the other structures -- the former Niigata Customs House, a reconstructed warehouse and a former bank building -- were open during my weekday morning visit. But, as an architecture buff, I still enjoyed looking at their exteriors.
I thought the exhibition rooms in the main building were beautifully curated with a nice use of dioramas. Displays -- many interactive -- include irrigation canals, the growing of rice, area maps, early settlements, rivers, historical and current photos and today's trade with other cities. I especially liked the exquisite model of the Bandai Bridge, which is the symbol of Niigata. The model shows the first of three Bandai bridges constructed. It was made of wood and the first to cross the Shinano River, the longest in Japan. This beautiful work stands in a glass case and takes up almost a complete small exhibition room.
Outside, the well-maintained grounds include canals. One creates the atmosphere of the time when many of Niigata's streets were canals. The landing area by one canal marks the former bank of the Shinano River, which is still nearby. The museum is one of the Shinano River Water Shuttle stops.
I came on the City Loop Bus, using a daily pass. This gave me a discount on the Y300 adult admission price for the main building's exhibits. I also received a free audio guide in English and an English brochure. There is no fee for exploring the grounds.
I thought the exhibition rooms in the main building were beautifully curated with a nice use of dioramas. Displays -- many interactive -- include irrigation canals, the growing of rice, area maps, early settlements, rivers, historical and current photos and today's trade with other cities. I especially liked the exquisite model of the Bandai Bridge, which is the symbol of Niigata. The model shows the first of three Bandai bridges constructed. It was made of wood and the first to cross the Shinano River, the longest in Japan. This beautiful work stands in a glass case and takes up almost a complete small exhibition room.
Outside, the well-maintained grounds include canals. One creates the atmosphere of the time when many of Niigata's streets were canals. The landing area by one canal marks the former bank of the Shinano River, which is still nearby. The museum is one of the Shinano River Water Shuttle stops.
I came on the City Loop Bus, using a daily pass. This gave me a discount on the Y300 adult admission price for the main building's exhibits. I also received a free audio guide in English and an English brochure. There is no fee for exploring the grounds.
Written 19 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Krystal B
40 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
This museum was only was very mildly interesting, with not much translated into English. I'd only recommend if you have nothing else to do.
Written 29 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marlene Z
San Diego, CA88 contributions
Oct 2015
Well worth the hour to visit the actual Prefecture meeting hall...we could just picture the city reps sitting aroung the table, up in the chairs on the second level...and so many photos and replicas of the kinds of city business that went on here...
Written 8 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen D
Galveston, TX226 contributions
Jun 2014 • Business
We came here to the grounds along the river to see a dance production with Mickey Muse from Tokyo Disney. A really nice venue for this. The river view is really nice. The old buildings are beautiful.
Written 8 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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