What other travelers are saying about Noshiro Basketball Library and Museum
A small yet beautifully presented museum located in the city of Noshiro. If you happened to be in Akita and are a fan of “Slam Dunk”, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Full volumes of Slam Dunk are available to read free of charge inside the museum, alongside other basketball comics and game DVDs spanning student, amateur, professional, and NBA competitions.
The museum sells basketball-themed merchandise including T-shirts, key chains, and can badges. Entry stickers in 6 different designs are also given free to all visitors upon arrival.
Basketball footage covering both international and local competitions is shown on a 100-inch large screen. DVDs of games from student, amateur, professional, and NBA levels are also available to view on site.
Most exhibit panels are in Japanese. Visitors without prior basketball experience have also found it enjoyable, as the video content, comics, and visual displays are accessible regardless of language ability.
It's located in the city center. You need to check in. You will be asked where you are from.
The receptionist will likely talk to you quite a bit, so it's not for people who don't like that.
There is no dedicated parking lot, so I recommend using the nearby city hall parking lot.
It felt more like a retail space than a museum.
There were autographs from various basketball players, rows of basketball magazines, and basketball games were being broadcast.
There were some Slam Dunk magazines and merchandise, but it didn't really have much of a Slam Dunk feel.
Noshiro City is actively promoting itself both domestically and internationally as a basketball town.
It seems that many people are visiting now as a result of Slam Dunk.
Rather than being a Slam Dunk museum, this museum has more of an atmosphere as a museum for Noshiro Technical High School, which has made a name for itself in national tournaments.
Admission is free and merchandise is also available for purchase.
There is no dedicated parking lot, so I parked my car in the nearby city hall car park.
Utilizing the former site of a store in the shopping district, this museum displays valuable exhibits related to basketball in Noshiro. For my generation, it's well-known that Sanno Technical High School in Slam Dunk was modeled after Noshiro Technical High School. Perhaps with the cooperation of Professor Inoue, there were many exhibits related to Slam Dunk, which I enjoyed more than I expected. Although the space is small, it's a facility where you can really feel the love for basketball.
I visited on a Sunday in April to watch a basketball game the next day. While it's within walking distance from Noshiro Station, I took a taxi because there weren't many trains from Akita Station, resulting in a long wait at Higashi-Noshiro Station. There were other customers inside, but it was quiet. It was great to learn about the history of basketball in Japan. The Yuta Tabuse section in particular featured articles from his younger days, which was fascinating. It was also great to experience sitting in a chair custom-made for taller players and trying on a uniform. I've only ever seen B.League games, but learning about other leagues has made me want to see more.
Many of the staff are basketball fans and were very warm and welcoming, and I wish I could have talked to them more.
They also sold souvenir T-shirts and key chains.
