Kujukuri Iwashi Museum

The Kujukuri Iwashi Museum is a museum in this coastal town dedicated to the history of sardine fishing and processing. The space contains fishing tools, historical photographs, information about marine life, and a large aquarium with living sardines swimming inside.

The museum opened in 1982 to preserve the region's fishing traditions and industrial heritage. It faced a major disruption but was rebuilt and reopened to welcome visitors again.

The museum reveals how sardine fishing shaped daily life and work in this coastal community for generations. The exhibits show the traditional methods and knowledge that local people used and passed down through families.

The museum sits inside a local trading center with nearby parking and facilities, making it easy to find and access. Plan your visit with time to see both the exhibits and watch the aquarium, which is a main feature of the space.

This museum holds a rare distinction as the world's only institution focused entirely on one fish species and its role in human history. This specialized focus makes it a remarkable documentation of how a single resource shaped an entire community.