Mie Prefectural Museum "MieMu" A Splendid Exhibition to Learn about the Nature, History and Culture of Mie!

​The Mie Prefectural Museum “MieMu” is located in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture. In addition to the overwhelming number of exhibits inside the museum, there is also a space where you can read books for free and an area where you can learn by moving your body.

*Information is current at the time of the interview.
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Access to MieMu is about 1 hour by car from Nagoya, and about 5 minutes by bus from Tsu Station (Kintetsu, JR) by train.

The landmark is the building with a solid feeling and accent color orange. The origin of "MieMu" means "mie museum" and "mie dream". The cute naming that makes you feel attached is attractive!

A cute mobile greets you when you go up the stairs!

There is also a space where you can take a break while looking outside scenery.

In front of the Main Exhibition Room is the largest mammal ever discovered in Japan, the Mie elephant! (Stegodon miensis)

This time, we will introduce about MieMu's main exhibition.

The reception is on the 2nd floor and the exhibition area is on the 3rd floor. The contents of the exhibition are centered on Mie Prefecture's "nature", "living", "history" and "culture". It is characterized by an all-in-one exhibition, such as an easy-to-understand and carefully put together. There is also an experience area.

It is also worth noting that some of the exhibits are realistically reproduced using a special technique called ganshin*! If you visit MieMu, you will understand everything about Mie Prefecture.

* Impregnation (Ganshin): A technique to harden an object by immersing it in a special agent.

Discover Mie!
Variety of Exhibitions Showing the Diverse Charms of Mie

Once you Step Inside, you will be Traveling Back to Ancient Times!

As you enter the entrance, you will see panels and videos showing the origins of the land in Mie Prefecture.

For example, the fault "Median Tectonic Line" located in the central part of Mie Prefecture. My eyes were glued to find out that there was a fault near my living area! It's a big learning experience because I can understand things that I didn't pay attention to every day.

Don't miss the numerous shellfish and dinosaur fossils in the museum. The Akebonozou in the lower right of the photo is presumed to have evolved from the Miezou (*) into a smaller size, and fossils have been found in Inabe City and Yokkaichi City.

*Miezo (Stegodon miensis): 7.6m in length and 3.6m in height. It is the largest land mammal ever found in Japan. It was discovered in Geino-cho, Tsu City in 1918. (excerpt from MieMu exhibition)

Exhibits so Elaborate that the Eye is Fooled into Thinking they are Real!

From here, it is the entrance where you can touch Mie's "nature", "life", "history" and "culture". It is displayed in the image of going counterclockwise in Mie prefecture.

Into the trees in Odai and Higashi Kishu. In an instant, you will feel like you are in the forest.

The moss in the exhibition is so fresh!

First of all, you will be greeted by the plants that inhabit Odai and Higashi Kishu.

It is an exhibition where you can understand how the appearance of the forest changes depending on the altitude and location, such as shii, oak, and beech. By the way, the trees on display are real! In addition, the background photos of the exhibition are photos taken in very finely divided pieces so that the resolution does not become rough. Many of them are connected to form a collage, making you feel like you are in a forest!

In particular, Higashi Kishu is an area with a lot of rain in Mie Prefecture. Even though you have a vague sense of how much it is raining, it's easy to see if you look at the exhibit.

If you want to know the details, they will explain it on the touch panel. There are tools that allow you to dig deeper into what you want to know, so you might forget the time!

Animals and Plants in the Snowy Suzuka Mountains

After passing through the forest, you will see an exhibition that offers a view of the snowy landscape of the Suzuka Mountains. There are many points to see, not only about animals and plants that are adapted to snow, but also about why it snows in the Suzuka Mountains and how the caves are formed!

What impressed me was the intricacy of the plants. You can clearly see the colors and freshness, so it looks like a real flower.

When I asked Mr. Kitamura, a curator of MieMu, about the secret, he told me that some of the plants in this corner are made by impregnation. I can't hide my surprise at the technology that reproduces even the downy hair behind the flowers.

You can Understand the Ebb and Flow of the Tide on a Giant Screen!

A huge screen of about 100 inches! On the screen, the tide is receding.

Same place as the photo above. After about two and a half hours, it is completely full.

The ebb and flow of the tide, which you can't see unless you stand in the same place for a long time, is obvious when you look at this giant screen. The ebb and flow is shown in 10 minute increments, so you can't help but stare into it.

In addition, there is also an exhibit that realistically expresses the sea at low tide and high tide in the same place! If you take your time and look at it slowly, your impression of the tidal flats that you usually see casually will change.

The coast of Mie Prefecture is famous as a spawning spot for sea turtles. At MieMu, I found an exhibit where sea turtles are laying eggs right now!

According to Mr. Kitamura, he intentionally displayed the sea turtle with its butt facing this side because he wanted people to see the sea turtle laying eggs. You can see the depth and size of the hole where the eggs are laid up close. By the way, this sea turtle is actually a real sea turtle that has been impregnated!

Exhibits Condensed with Life on the Shore and Creatures of the Sea

The Ise-Shima region is located in the southeast of Mie Prefecture. The exhibition at MieMu focuses on the lives of Ama divers and sea creatures. You can understand the life of Ama and how to catch shellfish through exhibits, tools, and videos.

If you look closely, you can clearly see the delicate structure of the scales and fins.

Every Single Wrinkle on the Sunfish is Real!

The exhibition of creatures of Kumano Sea is characterized by impact and delicacy. What surprised me the most was the sunfish, which was too real. When it comes to sunfish exhibits that I have seen, they are stuffed animals and replicas that have a smooth shape and a slight bluish tinge. However, the sunfish exhibited at MieMu has a moist texture in addition to the rough wrinkles. Furthermore, the color is gray and the mouth is white. "This is a real sunfish," I let out a sigh. Some of the fish displayed in this corner are impregnated. This is a must-see place!

A Leading Figure in Mie's Representative Culture, "Oise-mairi"!

Onshi will make a schedule for visiting Ise.

Hospitality in a splendid house!

Kagura dinner at the Oshi residence. It is the most expensive menu course.

Speaking of Mie's representative culture, many people may imagine "Oise-mairi (Ise pilgrimage)".

It is said that in the Edo period, all Japanese wanted to visit Ise at least once in their lives, and many people flocked to the shrine. At that time, there was a modern-day tour conductor called “Onshi,” and there was a mansion that entertained visitors.

I asked Oshi to make a plan for me

Approximately 470,000 yen.......

When I asked Oshi to coordinate it for me, it turned out to be an expensive plan of about 470,000 yen...! The options include "place to be picked up", "means of transportation (horses, baskets, etc.)", "thickness of cushions to sit on", and "types of kagura". I'm sure the people who visited Ise at that time must have been spurred on, saying, "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience!"

Free Admission!
"Children's Experience Exhibition Room" where you can See, Touch and Play

It is an open space. It's a floor material with cushioning, so it's okay to fall on!

Safe for small children! There is also a picture book area!

There are many tools to learn in the numbered drawers!

Go through this hole to enter the world of the sea!

In front of the entrance of Main Exhibition Room, there is a "Children's Experience Exhibition Room". The interior is a space that can be said to be a children's version of Main Exhibition Room! It is an experiential exhibition room where each motif such as the sea, mountains, rivers, and towns is within reach and you can enjoy while playing.

If you go up the stairs, you might be able to meet mountain animals!

As of August 2023, the timetable is divided into 7 slots (45-minute shifts), and it is a reception system on the day. Anyone under elementary school age (including parents) can enter for free. During the interview, 2-year-old children were playing with tools, and kindergarten children were laughing and having fun in their own way!

Free to Use!
Abundant Books in Mie where you can Feel the Diversity

All books and materials are freely available

A selection of books on the nature, culture, and history of Mie Prefecture

You can do research, and there is also a material consultation corner in the back.

MieMu has an "exchange creation area" next to the exhibition area. It is a calm space where books and materials are lined up to meet the needs of wanting to "know", "learn", and "research" about the nature, history and culture of Mie Prefecture.

I was impressed by the bright and open atmosphere, with elementary and junior high school students spreading out their books and chatting, and adults having meetings with the staff.

MieMu is a Place where both Adults and Children can be Fascinated!

MieMu is a museum where information on the nature, history and culture of Mie Prefecture is on display. In general, when you think of a museum, you have the image that the inside is quiet and you shouldn't speak loudly, but MieMu is more lively than you might imagine! The space is bright and comfortable. Adults are piqued by their curiosity, and children have fun while playing.

If you are from within Mie Prefecture, this is a place where you can clear your doubts and acquire new knowledge.

To learn more about Mie Prefecture, go to MieMu! You will have a fulfilling day full of new discoveries!