What other travelers are saying about Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum
The sections explaining the history of the industry is really interesting! I also loved the cutlery and spoon collection that illustrate the evolution of metalworking over centuries. They also have English explanations for about 60% of the exhibits. The temporary collections of metalwork was a bit boring. We didn’t do the craft experiences as we wanted to visit actual factories, but if you’re short on time, this is the perfect spot to make a cup or spoon as a souvenir.
It’s an interesting museum where you can learn about the Tsubame industry and see lots of different products.
The workshops are fun, but felt a bit pricey given that it was a 20-30minute process.
It brought lot of fun there, we had a short experience tour to make our own metal cups. And there’re lot of historic records inside.
Unfortunately, I didn’t actually get a chance to look around the museum’s exhibitions while I was there! But their workshop hall is very cool—you can make your own hammered copper cups, among other things.
Excellent place to showcase some of the top notch craftsmanship of Tsubamesanjo. Me & my husband paid ¥2,500 each to have a go at Marking Tsuchime on the surface of a copper tumbler, it was not easy as it looked! Fun experience for both adults and kids to spend 1-2 hours.
The museum is open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. It closes on Mondays, or on Tuesday if Monday falls on a national holiday. The museum is also closed on days following national holidays and during the year-end and New Year period.
Advance booking is recommended for copper working experiences. While the museum offers various hands-on workshops including copper tumbler making and titanium spoon coloring, calling ahead ensures availability, especially for more elaborate craft experiences. Visitors can also punch a mini-spoon for free by asking at the counter.
The museum staff tries their best to communicate in English with visitors, and English guide communication is available. Exhibition materials use projection mapping and modern graphics to present information in an accessible format. For more comprehensive English-language factory tours in the broader Tsubame-Sanjo area, private guided tours with local experts are available separately.
Visitors should plan approximately two hours if participating in craft-making activities and touring the museum. Those only viewing exhibitions without workshops typically spend about one hour. Photography and videoing are permitted during both workshops and museum tours.
There are no restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the museum buildings. Visitors should plan to eat before or after their visit, either at restaurants near Tsubamesanjo Station or in the downtown Tsubame and Sanjo areas. The museum is located in a primarily industrial and residential area approximately five minutes by car from the station.
