Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum

The Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum chronicles 400 years of metalworking heritage in Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture. Established in 1973, the museum documents the city's transformation from its origins during the Edo period (1603-1867) into a globally recognized manufacturing center. The region's metalworking tradition began with nail production before expanding to include traditional rasps, kiseru smoking pipes, and hammered copperware that have been passed down through generations.

Tsubame's craftsmanship has achieved international recognition, with the city holding a 90% share of domestic production of western-style cutlery. Products from Tsubame have been used at the Nobel Prize Laureates banquet and presented as gifts to APEC leaders, testament to the exceptional quality of local metalwork. The museum's main exhibition building showcases historic production methods alongside contemporary masterpieces, while the World Spoon Hall displays approximately 5,000 spoons from around the world, dating from BC eras to modern times.

Visitors can participate in hands-on workshops at the Activity and Workshop Hall, which opened in 2019. These experiences include creating copper tumblers using traditional hammering techniques called tsuchime, where craftspeople use mirror-finished hammers to add textured patterns to metal surfaces. Titanium spoon coloring through anodization and spoon engraving are also available. The museum uses projection mapping and modern graphics to present the region's industrial evolution in an engaging format. Guests are encouraged to obtain the Tsubamesanjo Open Factory Guide from the museum to visit functioning factories throughout the city.

Admission costs ¥400 for adults (¥300 for groups of 10 or more) and ¥100 for elementary through high school students (¥80 for groups). The museum is located at 4330-1 Omagari, Tsubame. From Tokyo, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Tsubamesanjo Station, approximately 1 hour 50 minutes. The museum is 5 minutes by car from the station, though walking takes about 30 minutes. The museum closes on Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday), days following national holidays, and during the year-end New Year period. Payment can be made in cash or via PayPay.