The Itami City Museum of Insects is located within Koya Pond Park in Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture. It opened on November 10, 1990, and has become a popular educational attraction for visitors of all ages. Through its exhibits, live insect displays, and butterfly greenhouse, the museum offers an engaging way to discover the diversity of the insect world.
The museum was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Itami City’s incorporation as a municipality. It was initially managed by the Itami Park Greening Association, a public-interest organization. Following the association’s dissolution at the end of March 2013, the museum came under the direct administration of Itami City.
Since April 1, 2019, the Itami Cultural and Sports Foundation has served as the designated management organization, overseeing the museum’s operations.
The Itami City Museum of Insects Friends’ Association was established to help members deepen their enjoyment of the museum and learn more about insects. Many local residents participate in its activities, strengthening the museum’s connection with the community.
In the past, preschool children and elementary and junior high school students living in Itami, Takarazuka, Kawanishi, Sanda, and Inagawa Town could enter free of charge by presenting a Clover Card. This benefit ended when the card was discontinued at the end of March 2014.
Since 2006, the museum has actively participated as one of the organizers of Itami’s annual Naku Mushi to Gōchō event, which celebrates singing insects and the city’s historic neighborhoods. The event brings together nature and local culture, and the museum’s involvement contributes to the preservation and promotion of Itami’s cultural heritage.
In 2011, the museum helped restore insect specimens belonging to the Rikuzentakata City Museum in Iwate Prefecture, which had been damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake. This work contributed to efforts to preserve valuable scientific collections and support recovery following the disaster.
The museum is situated within Koya Pond Park, where its setting harmonizes with the surrounding natural environment. The building is constructed primarily of reinforced concrete, with some steel framing, and consists of four floors above ground and one basement level.
Site area: 1,800 square meters
Building footprint: 1,605 square meters
Total floor area: 2,986 square meters
Butterfly Greenhouse: The museum’s most popular attraction is its dome-shaped greenhouse, where more than 1,000 butterflies representing approximately 14 species are kept. The collection includes butterflies native to the Itami area as well as species from Okinawa Prefecture. Visitors can watch the butterflies flutter freely through a lush environment designed to resemble their natural habitat.
Ecology Exhibition Room: This area introduces visitors to insect behavior, life cycles, and the environments in which different species live.
Exhibition Room 1: A variety of displays explore the characteristics and appeal of insects, helping visitors appreciate their diversity and importance in nature.
Video Hall: Visitors can watch films and other visual presentations about insects and their natural habitats.
Special Exhibition Room: Temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year, with displays that change according to the season and special events.
Insect Rearing Room: This room is used for breeding and caring for insects. It is not open to general visitors.
Learning Room: Educational classes, lectures, and workshops provide opportunities to study insects in greater depth.
Exhibition Room 2: This gallery features more specialized insect exhibits for visitors who wish to expand their knowledge.
Collection Storage: Valuable insect specimens are preserved in this area, which is restricted to authorized personnel.
The dome-shaped butterfly greenhouse is the museum’s signature attraction. It houses around 1,000 butterflies, including species native to Itami and approximately 14 species from Okinawa Prefecture. The carefully maintained environment allows visitors to observe butterflies flying freely at close range, offering a memorable experience for both children and adults.
The butterflies on display include the large tree nymph, the common rose, the blue tiger, the striped blue crow, the chestnut tiger, the swallowtail butterfly, the dead leaf butterfly, and the chestnut tiger butterfly found in the Ryukyu Islands. The collection may vary with the season, so repeat visits can offer new discoveries.
Watching these colorful insects glide among the greenhouse’s plants provides a chance to appreciate their delicate patterns, graceful movements, and remarkable variety in a setting that evokes a tropical garden.
The museum is conveniently reached by bus from either JR Itami Station on the JR Takarazuka Line or Hankyu Itami Station on the Hankyu Itami Line.
Take an Itami City bus and get off at Koyaike Koen-mae or Matsu-ga-oka. From either stop, the museum is a short walk away.
Address: 3-1 Koyaike, Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan