Iyoboya Kaikan

Overview

The Iyoboya Kaikan is a municipal museum in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, dedicated to salmon. Located in the heart of Salmon Park (Salmon Park) on the banks of the Sanmengawa River, it functions as a comprehensive museum, combining aquarium-like elements such as salmon tanks and ecological exhibits with collections and displays of traditional fishing methods, food culture, and related regional historical and folklore materials. The museum houses several exhibits of freshwater organisms and fish. Its basement features the "Sanmengawa Salmon Observation Nature Museum," where you can directly observe salmon and other aquatic life through windows facing the Tamegawa River, a tributary of the Sanmengawa River. "Iyoboya" is the Murakami dialect word for salmon. The Iyoboya Kaikan uses photographs, videos, models, and real specimens to clearly explain the life cycle, ecology, fishing methods, culture, and history of salmon. You can even touch salmon and sample salmon dishes. The surrounding area is Salmon Park, with the Iyoboya Kaikan as its central facility. Behind the museum lies Salmon Park, a popular recreational spot for locals. Adjacent to the Iyoboya Kaikan is Salmon House, offering a shop selling Murakami's local products and a restaurant. In December, the nearby "Salmon Shiohiki Street" event takes place, where salmon are hung to dry from the eaves of houses throughout the area. Bicycle rentals are available (for a fee) at the museum except during winter.