The Ishikari Sand Dunes Wind Museum is a fascinating stop for anyone curious about the natural and historical evolution of Ishikari. The museum delves into the area's history, showcasing how it was once submerged underwater, the marine animals that inhabited those ancient waters, and the various artifacts discovered, including precious stones, artwork, and tools. The exhibits provide a compelling narrative of Ishikari's transformation over time. Admission is quite affordable at just 300 yen, making it accessible for most travelers. However, it’s important to note that the museum lacks English translations for its displays, with only a few pamphlets available. To fully appreciate the exhibits, using tools like Google Lens to translate the descriptions is highly recommended. One of the museum's unique activities is creating a time capsule for only 150 yen. Visitors can write messages or include small items in a can, adding a personal and memorable touch to their visit. Overall, the Ishikari Sand Dunes Wind Museum offers an enriching experience, especially for those interested in history, geology, and the unique cultural features of the Ishikari region.

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A pretty interesting museum that talks about the history of Ishikari: how it used to be submerged in water, animals that used to live in the waters, artifacts they’ve found (precious stones, artwork, tools.) Tickets only cost 300 yen - however, do note that aside from a couple of pamphlets, there’s no English in the entire museum, so make sure to use Google Lens so you don’t miss out.

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The parking lot is next to the building Admission is 300円, cash only You buy a ticket from a machine, and the moment I showed it to the attendant, they went into a room without giving any explanation… The exhibition space is about the size of an ordinary house, so unless you look closely at everything, it probably takes only about 10 minutes Touchable exhibits such as whale bones made for a good experience The free origami at the entrance was also nicely made, and I’m thinking of displaying it at work! But 300円 is expensive for this exhibition content There were no visitors other than me; you’d think the attendant could at least give some explanation…

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The lacquered bow seemed to be a temporary exhibit, but there was also a reconstructed bow, which made it easy to picture. The display of drifted objects collected by children had a lovely character to it🤗. The excavated pottery was fired with quite thin walls, showing how advanced their skills were🙋 On the other hand, the stone tools were chipped stone tools, so they weren’t using polished stone tools yet back then. The displays of salmon fishing and related tools, along with panels explaining how they were made from green wood, were easy to understand and enjoyable even for adults☺️ There were also various exhibits of whales, Steller’s sea eagles, turtles, and more🙋🙋

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My first visit was on 2025年5月15日. It opened on 2004(H16)年4月27日 after renovating and reusing the "former いしかり 番屋の地ビール館," which closed in 2003(H15)年4月. More than 20 years have passed, yet this was my first time here. Admission is 300円, including the neighboring 「former 長野商店」 (the parking lot is a spacious area north of the former 長野商店 with room for 50 cars). My personal top pick is the "taxidermied giant sturgeon caught in the Ishikari River in S44年 (Ishikari City Designated Cultural Property No. 2, designated 1982(S57).3.31, a 1.9m-long Daurian sturgeon)." Photos from before it was taxidermied are displayed alongside it, and I found them fascinating🧐 (other Ishikari City Designated Cultural Properties are also displayed at this museum). Other exhibits include "アオイガイ" (I’d love to see a live one!), whale fossils you can touch, a make-your-own canning machine (can cost 150円), various unusual objects washed ashore and found through beachcombing, and 「石狩紅葉山49号遺跡」 on the 2nd floor. (Honestly, if a "タモ" fossil were lying around nearby, I’d probably kick it aside without noticing.) 「エスチュアリ (meaning "estuary"; from No.21 onward, "いしかり砂丘の風資料館だより エスチュアリ")」 has been published since the preparation-office days, before this became a "museum," and apparently it has been over 27 years since the first issue in 1998(H10)年. If I could ask for anything more, the visitor route feels a little cramped given the number of exhibits, so how about opening up the office space too to make it feel more spacious?🤗

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