The building was originally constructed as the Tsuyama Library and designed by the renowned architect Shichiro Kigo.
The structure is officially recognized as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government.
The collection features rare taxidermy specimens of animals once native to the surrounding Okayama prefectural forests.
The museum interior retains its original wooden ceiling and period lighting fixtures from the Taisho era.
It is colloquially known as the 'Fushigikan' or 'House of Wonder' among local residents.
The Tsuyama Natural Science History Museum, also known as the Fushigikan, is housed in a registered Tangible Cultural Property originally built in 1926 as a library. The museum features a diverse collection of specimens including taxidermy, minerals, and fossils, with a heavy emphasis on local wildlife from the Chugoku mountain region. Visitors can view a comprehensive display of stuffed birds and mammals arranged in lifelike dioramas. The building's architectural history is as significant as its contents, retaining elements of its early 20th-century origins. It functions as a regional center for natural history education and ecological documentation.
The main entrance stairway and the exterior facade, which beautifully captures the Taisho-era architectural style.
Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Tsuyama Castle park grounds.
Check the placards carefully, as many descriptions provide specific insights into the regional ecology of the Tsuyama Basin.
Take time to appreciate the building's exterior woodwork and historical architectural features before entering.
Do not treat it as a modern, interactive multimedia museum; it is a traditional, display-heavy collection.
Closed on Mondays and during the New Year holiday period.
Maintain a quiet volume and do not touch the glass display cases or specimens.
