Last month, I visited the Niigata Prefectural Museum of History, known as Rekihaku, in Nagaoka City.

'Rekishaku', but the official website states.

The Niigata Prefectural Museum of History combines the characteristics of a history and folklore museum that comprehensively introduces the history and folklore of Niigata Prefecture with those of a Jomon museum that widely researches and introduces Jomon culture from a national and global perspective.

The company is introduced as.

As with all museums, there are two types of exhibition: permanent exhibitions, which are open to the public all year round, and special exhibitions, which are held from time to time. （The permanent exhibition is open to the public all year round (admission to the permanent exhibition is included in the admission fee for the special exhibition). The permanent exhibition is also open to the public.)

So we started with the 'Special Exhibition'.

The Niigata Plain is at the bottom of the sea! Mysterious old maps exhibition

The exhibition was entitled 'Mysterious old maps - is the Niigata Plain at the bottom of the sea? and introduced an old map called the 'Kanji Kohei no Zu', which was widely circulated in Niigata Prefecture, especially in the Kambara region. (This exhibition has already closed.)

This 'Kanji Kouhei no Zu' is a strange map in which most of the Niigata Plain is covered by the sea, with a large peninsula jutting out into the Sea of Japan. It is believed to be a map depicting the Echigo-Tsumari region around the Heian period (794-1185), and tradition has it that this mysterious peninsula was obliterated overnight by a massive tsunami that occurred during a major earthquake. However, there is no record of such a major earthquake or tsunami, nor have any such traces been found.

Recent research has led to the controversy that these old maps were made and circulated in later times (Edo - Meiji periods). I was completely fascinated by these enigmatic old maps, which some believe may be 'hazard maps' left behind by our ancestors.

Unfortunately, photography was not allowed in this special exhibition, partly because of the valuable old maps and documents on display. (The photo is a copy of a handout.)

Continue to the permanent exhibition. This is a series of very impressive exhibits that make the most of the large grounds.

History of Niigata Prefecture

The first section is the 'History of Niigata Prefecture', which introduces the history of Niigata Prefecture from ancient to modern times all at once. The first thing you see is an exhibition of stone tools excavated in Niigata Prefecture. The sheer number of items is overwhelming.

続いて気になったのがこちら、古代の「越後国」の成り立ちを示した地図です。

The 'Echigo Province' and 'Sado Province' were created towards the end of the 7th century. At that time, 'Echigo Province' was north of the Agano River and most of Niigata Prefecture was 'Echigo-China'. (Map at top of photo)

In 702 AD, almost the shape of today's Niigata Prefecture was formed. However, at that time, a part of Yamagata Prefecture was also part of the "Echigo Province" (map in the middle of the picture). (Map in the middle of the picture) And in 712 AD, the part of Yamagata Prefecture that was in the "Echigo Province" was divided into the "Dewa Province". (Map at the bottom of the picture)

Later, in 743 AD, the 'Sado Province' was incorporated into the 'Echigo Province', but it was restored in 752 AD.

I see, after the Meiji Restoration, this went through the abolition of the han system and became the present-day Niigata Prefecture. (Note: At the time of the abolition of feudal domains, Echigo Province was divided into several prefectures, including Mizuhara and Kashiwazaki Prefectures, and Sado Province became Sado Prefecture → Aikawa Prefecture. It was then merged to become the current Niigata Prefecture.)

This is an old map of Echigo-Tsumari drawn in the Edo period. This was also displayed in a very large size, so it was overwhelming. It seems that the Echigo-Tsumari people were fond of maps, and many old maps like this one remain.

Like the aforementioned Kanji Kōpei no Zu, in the past the map was drawn in reverse north-south direction to the current map.

他にも、伝統芸能や文化、産物などさまざまな展示があります。写真は江戸時代、佐渡金山で採掘された金銀を江戸へ運ぶ行列を再現したミニチュア。佐渡金山が江戸幕府250年の財政を支えたとも言われてます。

近現代の新潟県の資料も展示しています。写真の奥の方に写る映画館の部分は、新潟市の「大竹座」の大正時代の様子を再現しているそう。

Let's see, I think "Ohtakeza" is that building in Furumachi 8, where the bowling alley and restaurants are located. It used to be a cinema.

Experience the goose-stepping streets of Takata, a place of heavy snowfall.

The image that people outside the prefecture have of Niigata Prefecture is that of a 'snow country and heavy snowfall area', and here is a section that exhibits 'snow and life' in Niigata Prefecture.

It is difficult to convey in the photo, but this is a 'full-scale' model. This is a recreation of Ganki Street in Takada (Joetsu City) in the 1950s. The snow is as high as the second floor of the building.

Under these gangplanks, it is like an underground shopping arcade. General stores and geta shops have been recreated.

You can walk along the goose-street under the snow to see what the shops looked like in those days.

In recent years, with advances in snow removal technology and systems, and perhaps due to global warming, there is no longer as much snow as there used to be, and such sights as this, literally buried under snow, can no longer be seen. This is why this exhibition is so valuable.

And time travel back to the Jomon period.

Permanent exhibition, the last in the sequence, and the "Jomon Period" part.

The Jomon Museum, which claims to be 'a museum that researches and introduces Jomon culture from a national and global perspective', is also very well run.

A full-scale reconstruction model immediately catches the eye on entering the corner. The model reproduces the lifestyle of the people of Niigata Prefecture during the Jomon period, including housing and hunting. You can also get up close and personal with this model of a dwelling.

The Jomon period in Niigata Prefecture is known for its 'flame earthenware'. The majority of flame earthenware has been excavated in the Shinano River basin in Niigata Prefecture. About 90 pieces of flame earthenware, almost all of which are known in their entirety, were exhibited here. This was also a highlight of the exhibition.

Other areas include an exhibition on rice farming in Niigata Prefecture. These are just a few of the many other exhibits on display. There are also a number of exhibits that you can hold in your hands, so even if you are not a history buff, you can still have fun.

The Niigata Prefectural Museum of History is located in Sekihara, Nagaoka. It is about 5 minutes from the Nagaoka Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway and about 40 minutes by bus from JR Nagaoka Station.

Junior high school students and under are free, so why not bring your children along?

Museum introduction

Niigata Prefectural Museum of History http://nbz.or.jp/

• Opening hours: 9.30 am - 5.00 pm (entry until 4.30 pm).
• Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a holiday, the first non-holiday day after that date) Year-end and New Year (28 Dec - 3 Jan) *The museum may be closed or open temporarily. (Notices will be posted on the website each time.)
• Address: 2247-2, Aza Gongendo, 1 Sekihara-cho, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-2035, Japan.
• TEL: 0258-47-6130 (Acting)