City History & Shirone Kite Museum

OVERVIEW

Visit two museums – one devoted to kites, the other concentrating on Niigata’s history – and come away with a deeper understanding of why this area is so special. The collection at the Shirone Kite Museum numbers in the hundreds and includes some of the world’s largest and rarest kites. Most of them are brightly colored and feature illustrations of fierce samurais and folkloric characters that lend insight into the local culture. Kites are synonymous with Niigata in part because of the annual Shirone Giant Kite Battles held there. You can see past kite battles and how the kites are made by watching a video in the museum. The exhibits in the Niigata City History Museum are just as captivating, especially the ones that explain how Niigata developed around the Shinano, the longest river in Japan. You can expect to see life-size dioramas, ship models and excavated artifacts such as pottery, tools and weapons.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse a museum with kites so large it takes dozen of people to fly them.
• Learn how the kites are made and how they battle each other during an annual festival.
• See exhibits in the city museum that explain how Niigata evolved through the centuries.
• Gain an understanding of the critical role that water played in Niigata’s development.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.