Miyazaki Prefectural Museum is a comprehensive prefectural museum located in Miyazaki City. Through exhibitions on natural history, local history, and folklore, it introduces the region’s natural environment, culture, and way of life.
Outside the main building is a traditional house area known as the Folk House Garden, where historic residences from different parts of Miyazaki Prefecture have been relocated and reconstructed. Visitors can experience the atmosphere of traditional Japanese rural life while exploring the museum grounds.
The museum building was designed by architect Junzo Sakakura. It is a two-story reinforced-concrete structure.
The museum’s history began in 1951, when the Miyazaki Prefectural Museum first opened. In 1968, the Saitobaru Museum, which included an archaeological exhibition room, was established. The present Miyazaki Prefectural Museum opened in 1971.
At first, the museum covered five main fields: archaeology, history, folklore, natural history, and art. In 1995, the art department became independent and the Miyazaki Prefectural Art Museum opened. In 1996, the Miyazaki Prefectural Center for Archaeological Operations was also established as a separate organization. The Saitobaru Museum closed in 2003.
The museum has also contributed to research into the region’s natural environment. In 2010, Deputy Director Masami Saito discovered a new plant species, which was introduced to the public through a special exhibition.
In 2017, the museum’s cumulative number of visitors exceeded three million, reflecting its importance as a place for learning about Miyazaki’s history, culture, and nature.
The museum presents exhibits covering history, folklore, and the natural sciences. Its displays focus primarily on materials from Miyazaki Prefecture and make use of original artifacts, dioramas, models, and other visual resources. These exhibits help visitors gain a more vivid understanding of the region’s natural environment and cultural development.
The Natural History Exhibition Room is located on the first floor and is divided into five themes:
“Miyazaki’s Forests,” “Miyazaki’s Waterside Environments,” “Miyazaki’s Earth,” “Miyazaki’s Living Creatures,” and “The Nature of Our Hometown.”
Through dioramas and replicas, the exhibition recreates Miyazaki’s rich natural environments and introduces the ecosystems found throughout the prefecture. Visitors can learn about the relationships between plants, animals, landforms, and water environments.
The History Exhibition Room is on the second floor and is organized around three themes:
“Life in the Dawn of Ancient Hyuga,” “Life from Ancient Times to the Modern Era,” and “The Continuing Development of Miyazaki.”
The exhibition traces the history of Miyazaki Prefecture from the Paleolithic period to the present day, placing particular emphasis on the everyday lives of the people who lived in each era.
Also located on the second floor, the Folklore Exhibition Room is divided into four themes: “Living in the Mountains,” “Living in the Countryside,” “Living by the Sea,” and “Prayers and Festivals.”
The displays focus on actual objects and materials, complemented by life-size models and videos. They introduce traditional lifestyles, local customs, religious practices, and festivals from different parts of Miyazaki Prefecture.
The museum also has special exhibition rooms and training rooms. Special exhibitions and educational lectures are held on a variety of subjects, offering visitors opportunities to explore particular themes in greater depth.
The museum grounds include a lawn area and a geological feature known as carbonate spherical concretions. These outdoor spaces provide additional opportunities to explore and enjoy the museum environment.
The main building also contains an entrance hall, collection storage facilities, and other spaces necessary for preserving and presenting the museum’s materials.
The Folk House Garden is a branch facility of the museum featuring four traditional houses relocated from different parts of Miyazaki Prefecture and reconstructed for public display.
The houses were moved to the site between 1972 and 1978. They introduce visitors to the traditional architectural styles and ways of life that developed in different parts of the prefecture.
The museum was designed by architect Junzo Sakakura and is a two-story reinforced-concrete building.
Its principal dimensions are as follows:
Building area: 4,122.29 square meters
Total floor area: 7,366.74 square meters