Mifune Town Dinosaur Museum

Flow of the course

About this spot

A landmark museum in Mifune Town, known as the place where Japan's first carnivorous dinosaur fossil was discovered. The Mifune Formation, a Cretaceous layer spanning the town, has yielded numerous fossils including dinosaurs, and the museum displays towering complete dinosaur skeletons in impressive rows. The highlight is the glass-walled Open Lab, where you can watch staff carefully extract fossils from rock through cleaning work up close, experiencing the atmosphere of where specimens are born. With abundant displays of actual fossils, this is a museum where both dinosaur-loving children and adults lose track of time—a fitting start to your journey.

Tips

Weekends and holidays draw family crowds, so arriving just after opening is the secret to leisurely viewing. Allow about 90 minutes for thorough exploration. Dinosaur monuments scattered throughout town make for fun fossil-spotting during travel.

Best time to visit

Approximately 1.5 hours required. Early morning, right after opening, is ideal for unhurried viewing of the exhibits.

Access & map

〒861-3207 Mifune Town, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture, 995-6