胡麻の郷, Sesame museum in Sekigahara, Japan

The sesame museum in Sekigahara displays the full journey of this crop, from cultivation methods and processing techniques to its many uses in Japanese cooking. The halls walk you through each step of how sesame becomes a finished product.

The museum opened in 2000 as a theme hall devoted to sesame, run by Sesame Planning, a group company of the sesame processor Shinsai. It is in Sekigahara, Gifu Prefecture, not Komaki. Its exhibits cover the crop's origins and history, its components and how it is eaten in different countries.

The place displays traditional tools and documents that show how sesame has been woven into Japanese farming and cooking practices. These objects tell the story of craftsmanship passed down through generations.

The museum is in Sekigahara, Gifu Prefecture, at 1565-10 Tama. From JR Sekigahara Station on the Tokaido Main Line it is about 5 minutes by car, and about 7 minutes by car from the Meishin Expressway Sekigahara IC. Entry is free and parking is available. It closes in winter, from December 25 to the end of February.

The museum opened in 2000 as a theme hall covering everything about sesame, run by Sinsé Planning, a group company of the sesame processor Sinsé. Its mascots, The Sesame Brothers, were designed by Takashi Yanase, creator of Anpanman. Admission is free, and the museum closes from December 25 to the end of February.