In 1979, the fossil of a carnivorous dinosaur was discovered in Japan for the first time in Mifune Town. That discovery led the town to become one of the country’s most noteworthy areas for producing dinosaur fossils. It also helped Mifune attract international attention.
As a stratum formed in the late Cretaceous period, the Mifune Group boasts the largest number of dinosaur fossils produced in Japan.
The mission of the Mifune Dinosaur Museum is to make sure future generations inherit the Mifune Group and the fossils that have been collected.
The museum’s regular exhibitions consist of five “zones,” and objects such as fossils excavated in Mifune Town and entire dinosaur skeletons are on display. There is much to see, including the “World of Dinosaurs” zone, highlighted by the impressive skeletal displays, and the backyard tour exhibit, nicknamed the “open laboratory.” Visitors can also explore some of the workrooms where staff perform tasks such as cleaning fossils.
In addition, the museum also puts on experiential programs such as excavation and specimen creation activities at the museum’s fossil dig site (Kaseki Hiroba).