Niigata City History Museum (Minatopia)

Museum / Science Museum

4.0

At this history museum in Chuo Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, you’ll find materials illuminating the history and folk culture of Niigata, which developed along with the sea. The main building adopts a modern Western design used by the second-generation Niigata city hall. Inside, you’ll find a permanent exhibit with the theme “The local sea and locals’ lives,” along with a theater, planned exhibitions, and more. Onsite, there’s also the Former Niigata Customhouse building in the Meiji period, a National Treasure, and the Former Daishi Bank Sumiyoshi-cho Branch, which was completed in 1927. Visitors are allowed entry.

Spot details

Address: Nigata Pref. Nigatashi Chuou-ku Yanagishimachou 2-10
Area: Niigata / Aga Area
Phone: 0252256111
Hours: 9:30-18:00
[Oct.-Mar.] 9:30-17:00
*Ticket sales end 30 minutes before closing
Closed: Monday (The next day if that Sunday is Closed), The next day of public holidays (Tuesday if that Sunday is SaturdaySunday), New Year's holiday (12/28-1/3), fumigation season, etc.
Fees: [Permanent exhibition Admission fee] [General] 300yen [High school students/university students] 200yen [Small/Junior high school students] 100yen * Special exhibitions vary from exhibition to exhibition
Parking Lot: Available(73spaces)
Credit Card: Available (VISA, MasterCard, JCB, AMEX, UnionPay, DISCOVER, Diners Club)
Smoking: Not available
Wi-Fi: Available(Niigata City Wi-Fi)
Note: Temporary suspension:Closed until May 11, 2020 (Information as of May 11, 2020)
* Information may be changed, so please be sure to check the official information.
Estimated stay time: 30-60 minutes
Wheelchair accessible: Available
Infant friendly: Available

Information Sources: NAVITIME JAPAN

Review

Go for the buildings, but check it out anyway

Reviewedï¼2018.12.28

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...
Slightly interesting for a rainy day

Reviewedï¼2018.05.30

This museum was only was very mildly interesting, with not much translated into English. Id only recommend if you have nothing else to do.
Fine historical exhibits - but weak on non-Japanese explanation

Reviewedï¼2017.05.19

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...