We took a field trip to the amber museum in Kuji, Iwate (Japan)! A very fun, family-oriented adventure that took exactly the right amount of time for our young children.
Nestled in the hills above Kuji(久慈市), Iwate (岩手) the drive in early spring was incredible! The spring flowers haven’t popped out yet, but that ‘spring-is-in-the-air feeling was joyfully felt in every bird tweet and in the eyes of the spring sun!
Being early in the season, the museum itself was very lightly attended and we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves! Makes a much more enjoyable outing when you don’t have to keep maintaining your 5-year-old’s energy in check!
Jewelry making workshop
We took part in an amber jewelry-making workshop and made some beautiful pendants in about 30 minutes. The pieces were roughly pre-cut and we used sandpaper and polish to bring them to wearable. The ease of sanding and polishing was greatly appreciated by the little ones and they are very proud of their new creations! I am happy with the amber piece I made with little Kyle – that piece will adorn my oilskin outback hat!
Amber Mine: self-guided tour
The self-guided tour through the amber mine was short but amazing. This is not some fancy, built-for-tourists mine replica, but a real mine that was shut down. The entry and timbers throughout are still old rough-cut logs and while I never felt unsafe, it was a startling contrast with how much safety precautions would be required in an American mine!
We finished the day with a stroll through both their shop and museum. They have some amazing pieces and a rich connection with the Russian and Baltic Amber-producing regions. There is even a Lithuanian amber museum branch on site!
Educational opportunities
And I can’t leave you without mentioning the educational aspects of the museum. There are informational kiosks and all displays have multiple languages, including English, so you won’t be lacking situational awareness. My 5-year-old boy is in his ‘dinosaur’ phase and was in heaven with all the dinosaur displays to ogle! (My 3-year-old daughter – well, let’s just say she was less impressed!)
If you are swinging through Iwate to see this amazing land, add the Kuji Amber Museum to your itinerary – I promise you will thank me!
