Kaga Museum Guide

The Kutaniyaki Museum is an art museum displaying collections of Kutaniyaki pottery, a famous style of pottery characterized by the use of green, purple, yellow, red and blue glazes, which developed during the Edo Period (1603-1868).

Located just outside central Yamashiro Onsen, this pottery museum displays a variety of antique and modern kutaniyaki pieces as well as the ruins of a large, multi leveled kiln from the Edo Period (1603-1868). Hands-on workshops are offered as well.

Rosanjin, one of Japan's most famous ceramicists, lived in Yamashiro Onsen for a short period of his life. This is his restored former residence with a small attached museum with some of his work.

Hashidate Port near Kaga Onsen served as a stop along the shipping trade route along the Sea of Japan coast during the Edo Period (1603-1868). Housed in a large former residence of a ship builder, this museum is devoted to the ships built in Hashidate and to the trade route they were employed on.

The Ishikawa Aviation Plaza is a free aviation museum just across the street from Komatsu Airport. It has an interesting selection of decommissioned aircraft in its enclosed hanger as well as flight simulators, models and other exhibits.

The Motorcar Museum of Japan has an impressive display of over 500 cars, trucks and motorcycles from Japan and around the world, including many vintage models. The museum also has a funny (and functional) "toilets from around the world" display.

Near central Katayamazu Onsen, the snow and ice museum displays the work and equipment of Nakayama Ukichiro, a local scientist who devoted his life to the study of snow crystals. The museum also offers interesting hands on activities and experiments.

The Matsui Hideki Baseball Museum is an interesting museum displaying the life and career of Matsui Hideki, a native of the Kaga Onsen region and one of Japan's most successful baseball players. A hands on section allows visitors to handle his glove, bat and other equipment. A lot of information is available in English.

The well designed Ishikawa Insect Museum provides visitors with a variety of live exhibits as well as mounted insects from around the world. The museum includes a beautifully done butterfly house and hands on experiences with living insects.