How large is the museum's collection?

The museum holds around 15,000 specimens across approximately 4,000 species, focused primarily on insects from Okayama Prefecture, with additional specimens from Japan and abroad.

Is the museum accessible to non-Japanese speakers?

Display labels are in Japanese only. That said, the exhibits consist largely of mounted specimens, so the collection remains visually engaging without requiring language comprehension.

Does the museum include any endangered species?

Yes. Several insects on display were once common in the Okayama region but are now classified as endangered. This aspect of the collection is intended to prompt reflection on habitat loss and the importance of protecting the natural environment.

Is the museum easy to find within the hospital?

Some visitors find it slightly difficult to locate initially, as it sits inside a working hospital. There is a directional sign posted in the alley beside the building. Asking staff at the hospital reception for directions is the most reliable approach.

Does the museum have a reading or reference area?

Yes. The museum includes a small library corner with entomology-related books and reference materials. It functions as an informal resource for insect enthusiasts and researchers visiting the collection.

Kurashiki Insect Museum

4.3 (40)Tourist AttractionMuseumPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Last updated May 16, 2026

The Kurashiki Insect Museum (倉敷昆虫館) is a specialist entomology museum located on the first floor of Shigei Hospital at 2-30 Saiwaicho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Operated by the Shigei Medical Research Institute, it was established to preserve and showcase the insect biodiversity of the Okayama region, making it one of the few hospital-based natural history collections in Japan. Its unusual setting reflects a long-standing commitment by the institution to regional scientific education and conservation.

The museum's collection is focused primarily on insects native to Okayama Prefecture, supplemented by specimens from across Japan and the wider world. In total, it holds around 15,000 specimens representing approximately 4,000 species, displayed in organized cases that allow visitors to observe both the scale of local insect diversity and the differences between regional and global species. The collection serves not only as a public exhibit but also as a research and reference resource for entomological study.

Visitors can browse neatly arranged pinned specimens including beetles, butterflies, and other orders of insects, with displays organized to highlight species distribution and ecological relationships. The museum is modest in scale but notable for the quality and breadth of its collection, which has drawn praise from international visitors for rivaling larger institutional collections. Most information displays are in Japanese only, though the visual nature of the exhibits remains accessible regardless of language.

Admission to the museum is free of charge. It is reachable on foot in approximately 10 minutes from JR Kurashiki Station, making it easy to combine with a visit to the nearby Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. Visitors arriving by car can access it via the Sanyo Expressway Kurashiki IC or the Seto Chuo Expressway Hayashima IC, both approximately 20 minutes away, with parking available at the Shigei Hospital car park.

Traveler reviews

This smallish insect collection is inside the hospital and therefore a bit hard to find but just ask. We like insects, so we loved the two corridors of cases.

Mark Hughes

Nov 23, 2018

A display filled with passion and dedication. The staff are superb in their knowledge.

I was curious to check out the sign in the alley next to the hospital, and it was apparently opened by the late Shigei Hiroshi, founder of Shigei Hospital. Insects that were once familiar are now considered endangered, which makes you think again about protecting the natural environment. On the map it looks like it's inside the hospital, but it's actually on the east side of the road, not the entrance. There's a sign on the mailbox on the road in front of the entrance.

The collection of insect specimens is so beautiful that it's hard to believe it's a free-to-enter facility. If you're coming by car, you can get a parking discount if you park in the Shigei Hospital parking lot and enter the museum from there.

This free insect museum is tucked away behind the first floor of a hospital for some reason. There are no live insects, so it's more of a specimen exhibition area. There are a variety of specimens, from insects from Japan to those from around the world, which is quite interesting.

Kurashiki Insect Museum

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