[Temporarily Closed] Iwaki City Coal & Fossil Museum (Horuru)

[Temporarily Closed] Iwaki City Coal & Fossil Museum (Horuru)

*Please note that the Iwaki City Coal & Fossil Museum (Horuru) remains temporarily closed until 2024.

 

Lovingly referred to as 'Horuru' by locals, Iwaki City Coal & Fossil Museum is home to exhibitions on the city's history of coal mining. Horuru also exhibits a range of fossils, including the locally-excavated Plesiosaur Futabasaurus, which was discovered by a high school student. There are also some hands-on experiences to try out, such as making your own amber accessories. Horuru is accessible on foot from Iwaki Yumoto Onsen town, and is a great addition to any trip to the Iwaki area.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttp://kankou-iwaki.com/fun/931.html
Contact

Iwaki Tourism and City Planning Bureau

Best SeasonAll Year
Estimated Visit Time1h
Opening Hours

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)

Closed the 3rd Tuesday of the month (or the following day if the 3rd Tuesday falls on a national holiday). Closed on January 1.

ParkingAvailable
Entrance FeeAdults 660 yen; Junior High, High School, University Students 440 yen; Elementary School Students 330 yen
Access Details
Access3-1 Mukaida, Joban-Yumoto-machi, Iwaki City, Fukushima Pref. 972-8321
View directions
Getting there

By Car: 10 min drive from the Iwaki Yumoto I.C. exit off the Joban Expressway.

By Train: 10 min walk from JR Yumoto Sta. (JR Joban Line).

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In a crescent shaped cove separated from the mainland on the small island known as Bentenjima Island, you will find the mysterious Bentenjima Shrine. The vermillion painted tori gate stands out against the jagged stone and the powerful waves. It is believed that the shrine was land based until an earthquake that occurred in 1410 resulted in the formation of this jagged rock island. The construction date of the original shrine is unknown. The island is also known as Wanigafuchi because, according to legend, a creature known as a “wanizame” (crocodile shark) lived on the island. Half crocodile, half shark, this creature can be seen in many old Japanese paintings. The creature may have been believed to cause the swirling water and violent waves that crashed against the rocks, sometimes resulting in people getting swept into the water. Another legend suggests that the wanizame once kidnapped a young woman from Iwaki who had wandered out to explore the island.This coast is lined with small round pebbles that shine when the water hits them. However, do not take any of these pebbles home, legend says that anyone who takes pebbles home from this coast will suffer from eye disease. This area was once a very popular destination for tourists and I highly recommend checking out the photos on the Iwaki city website linked below. It is all in Japanese, but you can read it with the google translate extension on google chrome browsers.
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