Ume Shinkokan, Roadside station and plum museum in Minabe, Japan.
Ume Shinkokan is a visitor center and museum in Minabe that occupies two floors. The displays explain how this fruit is grown, the research behind its cultivation, and the farming traditions that define the local region.
This facility opened in 1997 and preserves archaeological finds from different periods of Japanese history. Six bronze bells from the Yayoi era and displays about the Kamakura period stand out among the collection.
This place celebrates the plum, a fruit that shapes how local people work and live every day. You will notice how it influences the crafts, products, and rhythms of the community here.
Plan to visit on a weekday if possible, as weekends and late summer harvest season can be busy times. Parking is available on site, and the location sits right along Japan Route 424, making it easy to reach.
The museum displays Uridani-ishi stones, a volcanic rock found only in this area that local artisans carve into decorative objects. This stone type is rarely seen elsewhere in Japan.
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