Mifune Town Dinosaur Museum is a natural history museum located in Mifune Town, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture. It is known for its collection of dinosaur fossils, including discoveries made locally, as well as skeletal specimens and fossils from other parts of the world. The museum introduces visitors to the prehistoric world and explains how fossils provide evidence of life on Earth millions of years ago.
One of the museum’s main themes is the discovery of “Mifune-ryu,” a carnivorous dinosaur known from a fossil tooth discovered in Mifune in 1979. The discovery attracted nationwide attention and helped establish the town as an important center for dinosaur research in Japan. Visitors can explore the story of this discovery, learn about fossil excavation and scientific investigation, and gain a deeper understanding of dinosaurs and the geological history of the region.
The museum exhibits fossils discovered in Mifune alongside dinosaur fossils and skeletal specimens from other parts of the world. These collections allow visitors to compare different dinosaurs and explore the diversity of prehistoric life.
The displays also introduce the process of paleontological research, including how fossils are discovered, excavated, examined, and interpreted. By presenting both specimens and the scientific work behind them, the museum helps visitors understand how researchers reconstruct the lives of animals that disappeared millions of years ago.
The discovery of Mifune-ryu began in 1979, when a fossil tooth belonging to a carnivorous dinosaur was found in Kamiumeki, Mifune Town. In 1984, Professor Yoshikazu Hasegawa, then at Yokohama National University, announced that the fossil represented Japan’s first carnivorous dinosaur fossil discovery.
The discovery became widely known and brought attention to Mifune as an important location for dinosaur research. The fossil is a central part of the town’s paleontological heritage and is one of the main reasons the museum was established.
The museum features displays that explain the work involved in discovering and studying fossils. Visitors can learn about geological layers, the process of fossil excavation, and the methods scientists use to identify and interpret fossil remains.
These explanations make the museum an educational destination for children, families, students, and anyone interested in natural history. The exhibits connect discoveries made in the local area with the broader scientific study of dinosaurs and ancient ecosystems.
One of the museum’s distinctive features is Mifune Fossil Plaza, an activity area where visitors can experience searching for fossils. Participants can use a hammer to examine rocks and look for fossil remains, gaining a practical understanding of the work involved in fossil hunting.
Finding a fossil is not guaranteed, but the experience offers an exciting opportunity to examine rocks closely and discover how evidence of ancient life can be preserved in stone. The activity is especially popular with children and families and adds an interactive element to a visit to the museum.
Participation rules, equipment arrangements, opening times, and activity availability may change. Visitors who wish to take part should check the museum’s current guidance before their visit.
The history of the museum began with the discovery of a carnivorous dinosaur tooth in Kamiumeki, Mifune Town, in 1979. At the time, dinosaur fossils were rarely reported in Japan, so the discovery attracted considerable attention among researchers and the public.
In 1984, Professor Yoshikazu Hasegawa announced that the tooth was Japan’s first reported carnivorous dinosaur fossil. The specimen became known as Mifune-ryu, and the discovery helped bring national recognition to the town’s geological resources.
In 1990, additional fossils believed to belong to theropod dinosaurs were discovered one after another around Tenkun Dam. These finds strengthened the recognition of Mifune as an important dinosaur fossil locality and encouraged further investigation of the area’s geological formations.
The discoveries also highlighted the importance of preserving fossil sites and providing a place where specimens could be studied and presented to the public. They became an important foundation for the town’s plans to establish a natural history museum.
Following the discoveries of dinosaur fossils in the town, Mifune developed plans for a natural history museum that could preserve specimens, support research, and introduce the area’s paleontological heritage to visitors. Mifune Town Dinosaur Museum officially opened on April 30, 1998.
The museum provided a permanent place to exhibit fossils and explain the significance of the discoveries made in the surrounding region. It also helped establish Mifune as a destination for people interested in dinosaurs and prehistoric life.
In 2001, the museum was recognized as a registered museum. This recognition reflected its role in preserving and presenting natural history materials and in providing educational opportunities for the public.
In 2014, the museum moved into a new building and reopened following renovation. The renewed facility expanded the opportunities to present its collections and explain the significance of the fossils discovered in Mifune.
The modern museum continues to introduce visitors to local discoveries and international dinosaur research through specimens, explanatory displays, and educational activities.
1979: A fossil tooth from a carnivorous dinosaur is discovered in Kamiumeki, Mifune Town.
1984: Professor Yoshikazu Hasegawa announces that the specimen represents Japan’s first reported carnivorous dinosaur fossil. It becomes known as Mifune-ryu.
1990: Fossils believed to belong to theropod dinosaurs are discovered around Tenkun Dam.
1998: Mifune Town Dinosaur Museum officially opens on April 30.
2001: The museum is recognized as a registered museum.
2014: The museum relocates to a new building and reopens after renovation.
Mifune Town Dinosaur Museum is an appealing destination for visitors of different ages. Dinosaur skeletons and fossils offer an impressive introduction to prehistoric life, while exhibits about excavation and research help explain how scientific discoveries are made.
The hands-on fossil-searching experience at Mifune Fossil Plaza adds another dimension to the visit. It encourages children and adults to observe rocks closely and think about how traces of ancient organisms can survive over geological time.
For travelers exploring Kumamoto Prefecture, the museum is also a way to discover the geological heritage of Mifune Town. The area’s dinosaur discoveries have given the town a special place in Japan’s paleontological history, and the museum brings that story to life.
Mifune Town Dinosaur Museum was featured in the television program Sazae-san Broadcasting Episode 2,400 Special, in the episode titled “The Isono Family’s Support Trip to Kumamoto and Oita,” broadcast on March 26, 2017. The program introduced the museum to a nationwide audience and helped increase its recognition as a tourist destination.
From Mifune Interchange on the Kyushu Expressway, drive east along National Route 445 for approximately 10 minutes. Continue in the direction of Yamato Town; the museum is located on the right-hand side of the road.
From Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, take a Kumamoto Bus service bound for Kosa via Mifune, Tomochi, or Tsujun-sanso. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes to the Mifune Town Dinosaur Museum bus stop. The museum is only a short walk from the stop.
Mifune Town Dinosaur Museum brings together local fossil discoveries, dinosaur specimens from around the world, and explanations of the science used to study prehistoric life. The discovery of Mifune-ryu in 1979 marked an important moment in Japanese dinosaur research and helped establish the town as a notable fossil locality.
Visitors can explore the museum’s exhibits, learn how fossils are discovered and studied, and, when activities are available, try searching for fossils themselves. For families, students, and anyone fascinated by dinosaurs, the museum offers an engaging way to discover the ancient history preserved beneath the landscapes of Kumamoto Prefecture.