Shirone Kite Museum

Shirone, in the southern ward of Niigata City, is well-known for its giant kite festival, held annually in June.  If you can't make it to the festival itself, the Shirone Kite Museum is a fun place to spend an afternoon and learn about the history of the festival and the amazing kites that fly there.

The museum is filled with beautiful kites, big and small, with designs ranging from the traditional samurai and dragons to modern cartoon characters and realistic birds and insects.

On the second floor there is a workshop where you can build and color your own kite (for 300 yen) and then fly it in a wind tunnel!

In addition to the kites, there are also many displays about traditional crafts and life in Shirone over the past century.

The Shirone Kite Museum is open on most days from 9am to 5pm.  Entry is 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for children (elementary up to high school), but on weekends children are free.

Shirone Kite Museum homepage (No English): http://www.shiteikanrisha.jp/ootako/index.html

Niigata Furusato Village

I've often thought that Niigata is a great place to live, with so many interesting places to see and things to do, but sometimes it's not easy to find out about these places and events.  Niigata Furusato Village brings all the information about the prefecture's history and culture to one place!

There are two buildings to explore, the first being the Bazaar Hall, where you can try all sorts of local Niigata delicacies (I recommend the sauce katsudon) and do some shopping for souvenirs like rice crackers, sake, or cutlery from Tsubame-Sanjo.

The second building is the Appeal Hall, which is a combination tourism center and history museum.  You can find posters and flyers here from all points of interest throughout Niigata prefecture.  If you take an elevator up to the top floor, there is a theater and a path that winds back down to the ground floor, taking you on historical tour of Niigata with photographs and hands-on exhibits.  There is one area where you can experience falling snow, which is a nice way to cool off in the summer.  Also, it's all free!

Attached to the Appeal Hall is a large playground, and right outside of that is a beautiful pond full of carp, which you can feed with a bag of pellets for 100 yen.  When the weather is nice, it's a perfect place to enjoy some Yasuda Dairy Farm ice cream.

If you want to make a day of it, I recommend the Shinanogawa Water Shuttle, which travels back and forth between Furusato Village and the Toki Messe building, with a few stops along the way.  The ride is scenic and very smooth, and the entire journey takes about 1 hour and costs 1000 yen each way (half price for small children).

Niigata Furusato Village (English website): http://furusatomura.pref.niigata.jp/eng/

Shinanogawa Water Shuttle website: http://www.watershuttle.co.jp/

Niigata City Science Museum

The Niigata City Science Museum is another of our favorite places to visit, especially on those rainy Niigata days.  Some of the exhibits show their age a bit, but it's still a great place for hands-on learning, as everything is designed to be touched, pushed, and manipulated by curious kids.

When the museum has special exhibits, such as a giant cardboard maze or an interactive computer art show, it can be very crowded, but on normal days it is mostly quiet.  In addition to areas focused on dinosaurs, space, physics, and robotics, there is a planetarium that features various movies.

Entrance to the museum is only a few hundred yen, but a parent can enter for free with their small child if they show their Child Health Handbook (Boshi Techo).  The planetarium and the special exhibits cost extra, so check on what is currently showing before you go in.  Parking is free and readily available on several sides of the museum.

If the weather is decent, kids can explore the outside area of the museum, which is full of decommissioned vehicles such as an airplane, a helicopter, and two trains.  One of our favorite areas of the museum is on the second floor, where you can find a wonderful collection of wooden puzzles, games, and toys.  The staff are very friendly and happy to explain and demonstrate everything.

There is a restaurant on the top floor of the museum, but it doesn't look very impressive.  Instead, I recommend walking to the nearby Saffron bakery, where you can buy delicious sandwiches and breads.  The museum has several large areas set aside for eating and resting, so you can bring your lunch and eat it there.

Niigata City Science Museum map: http://www.sciencemuseum.jp/niigata/6-1.php