When is the best time to visit Iyoboya Kaikan?

During the salmon migration season from late October through December, when wild salmon can be observed through the 10 underwater viewing windows in the basement. The hatchery and aquarium are accessible year-round.

What sets it apart from other museums?

It is Japan's first salmon museum, featuring a 50-meter underground corridor built beneath the Tane River with 10 windows looking directly into the riverbed — allowing views of wild salmon during migration season.

Is the museum accessible to English-speaking visitors?

A single bilingual information sheet is provided at the entrance. All other signage and exhibit labels are in Japanese only. The aquariums, hatchery, and underground observation windows remain accessible regardless of language.

Niigata

Iyoboya Kaikan, Murakami

Q: Are there hands-on activities?

A salmon-salting workshop runs from late November to mid-December at the on-site Echigo-Murakami Sannomaruryu Sake-shiobiki Dojo. Sessions last two hours and participants leave with their own salt-cured salmon.

4.1 (691)MuseumPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Last updated May 16, 2026

Iyoboya Kaikan (イヨボヤ会館) is Japan's first salmon museum, situated in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, alongside the Tane River, a tributary of the Miomote River that has served as a salmon fishing ground for centuries. "Iyoboya" is the local Murakami dialect word for salmon, reflecting how deeply the fish is embedded in the city's identity. Murakami has maintained an unbroken relationship with salmon culture since the Edo period, and this facility was established to document and preserve that legacy for future generations.

The museum spans three above-ground floors and one basement level, with exhibits covering the history of salmon fishing on the Miomote River, salmon ecology, and traditional life in Murakami. The first floor displays fishing tools including boats and nets, while the second floor houses the Children's Salmon Science Museum, where interactive illustrations and computer games make the subject accessible to younger visitors. A mini hatchery on the upper floors allows visitors to observe salmon hatching from eggs, and a separate ecology observation room features a large aquarium where salmon can be seen up close throughout the year.

The highlight of the museum is found underground: the 50-meter-long "Miomote River Salmon Observation Natural Museum" in the basement, which features 10 underwater viewing windows set directly into the Tane River. During the salmon migration season — typically late October through December — visitors can watch salmon returning to spawn in their natural habitat. Outside the museum, Salmon Park surrounds the building with seasonal flowers, a pond with koi, and a bronze statue of Buheiji Aoto, a central figure in the region's salmon conservation and propagation movement.

A particularly sought-after seasonal activity is the salmon-salting workshop held at the Echigo-Murakami Sannomaruryu Sake-shiobiki Dojo within the facility, running from late November to mid-December. The hands-on session lasts approximately two hours, guided by a master salter, and participants take home their own salt-cured salmon at the end. Admission to the museum is ¥600 for adults. The museum can be reached by taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Niigata (approximately 2 hours 15 minutes), followed by an express train to Murakami (around 48 minutes), and then a 20-minute walk from the station.

Hours

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Phone

+81 254-52-7117

Website

www.iyoboya.jp

Overview

Address

13-34 Shiomachi, Murakami, Niigata 958-0876, Japan

Frequently Asked Questions

Traveler reviews

Beautiful and amazing

Lookmoo Fat

Jul 19, 2023

This museum is themed around salmon. The museum's name, Iyoboya, apparently means salmon in the Murakami dialect. While it features various exhibits on salmon ecology, the history of salmon fishing, and fishing tools, the main attraction is probably the huge observation space where you can view the riverbed of the Tanegawa River, a tributary of the nearby Miomote River, through glass. During salmon spawning season, you might even be able to witness the spawning process. However, outside of the salmon migration season, you can only see small fish swimming in the slightly murky river... There are also areas where you can interact with fish, making it a generally enjoyable facility.

This facility offers a deeper understanding of Murakami's salmon culture and salmon itself. Admission is 600 yen per adult, and cashless payment methods such as PayPay are accepted. "Iyoboya" apparently means salmon in the Murakami dialect. The facility has floors B1 to 3F, but it's a bit old-fashioned and the stairs are steep. There is an elevator, so it is somewhat barrier-free. On B1, you can directly see the riverbed of a tributary of the Miomote River via an underground passage, and apparently you might even be able to observe salmon spawning around November. This aspect reminded me of the Chitose Salmon Aquarium in New Chitose, Hokkaido. The 1st and 2nd floors are exhibition areas. The focus is mainly on history and culture. There's only a little bit about salmon ecology. I think the New Chitose Aquarium is more interesting in that regard. There's an observation deck on the 3rd floor, but it's a bit underwhelming. There's a large, free parking lot in front of the facility. It's probably crowded during the high season around November. It's about a 15-minute walk from the tourist parking lot at Murakami City Hall.

I visited this museum during a trip to Niigata during my summer vacation. It's a museum mainly focused on salmon, a specialty of Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture. A real salmon was hanging near the entrance, which was exciting! After paying the entrance fee, I went in to learn about salmon! There were exhibits on salmon-related materials and fishing methods, as well as actual freshwater fish in tanks, so I enjoyed more than just salmon! The area where you can see the river through a glass wall connected to the museum was particularly impressive, and I was able to see some small fish! If you're ever in Murakami City, it might be worth stopping by this unique museum!

On March 15, 2025, I spent an hour visiting the museum. It is the first salmon museum in Japan, and its name uses "Iyoboya," which means salmon in Murakami. Inside the museum, while salted salmon are hanging, visitors can learn about the ecology of salmon, fishing methods, the salmon culture of Murakami, and the life and achievements of Takeheiji Aoto, a samurai of the Murakami domain who devised the world's first natural hatching and farming method using seed rivers. At the back of the facility, there is a tank where you can look into the river and see salmon swimming in the river when in season.