Niigata City History Museum - Minatopia

At the end of the Samurai era, five ports - Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Hakodate, and Niigata - were chosen to open to other countries. The former Niigata Customs Office is the only building standing as it was opened. It is designated as a national important cultural property where the museum is located. Nearby, the stone stairs used for unloading the cargo, the storehouse / stone storage for the cargo for which temporarily the custom collection was suspended. Enjoy the nostalgic port townscape.

In the museum, the permanent exhibition shows valuable information with dioramas and photos, and the museum theater shares history and heroes visually on the over 6m-wide screen. It is amusing to learn Niigata’s history here. There is a hands-on plaza to learn olden days’ tips on daily life, the information library curating historical documents and other intriguing areas to keep your attention.

From April through October, volunteers give a free guided tour on the premises (reservation required), which helps you enjoy the historical buildings there even more.