Sea and Life Museum

A folk museum with a unique concept, housing as many as 4,000 fish specimens.

Inside this museum, repurposed from a sake brewery built in the Meiji era, around 700 species of specimens are displayed in a striking lineup, from the largest sunfish in Japan, caught in Shimane Prefecture in 2004 (*landed in Tottori Prefecture), to a 4.2-meter oarfish, known as the longest bony fish, and a 3.8-meter great white shark, often called the gangster of the sea. The shark collection is especially impressive, featuring 40 different types in all shapes and sizes.

The exhibits are so vivid and dynamic that the museum feels like a "dry aquarium." Because they are specimens, you can closely observe details such as the insides of open mouths and each individual scale. Major fish species also have explanations in English, Chinese, and Korean, so international visitors are sure to enjoy the experience.

Photography is allowed throughout the museum, and there are plenty of photogenic spots for social media, including a fishing boat (gillnet boat) that was once actually used and "Porcupinefish Street," where more than 500 porcupinefish specimens hang from the ceiling.