The sand used in the giant hourglass must be carefully sifted and dried to ensure it flows smoothly through the narrow glass aperture without clogging.
The museum's architecture was inspired by the imagery of sand grains and utilizes six pyramids to symbolize the surrounding local geography.
Koto-ga-hama beach, the source of the hourglass sand, is designated as a protected natural monument due to its unique musical sand properties.
The sandglass was specifically engineered to run for exactly 365 days, requiring a ceremonial inversion process once a year.
The museum building features acoustic properties intended to mimic the sound of the 'singing sand' found at the nearby coastline.
The Nima Sand Museum is globally recognized for housing the 'Sunadokei' (Sandglass), officially the world's largest hourglass at the time of its construction. The monument stands 5.2 meters tall and measures 1 meter in diameter, containing precisely one ton of sand sourced from the local Koto-ga-hama beach. This sand is renowned for its 'singing' properties, emitting a distinct sound when walked upon due to its high purity and crystalline structure. The facility itself is housed within a complex of six glass pyramids designed by architect Shin Takamatsu. The giant hourglass is programmed to complete its cycle over the course of exactly one year, with the sand completely draining from the top to the bottom chamber by New Year's Eve. Visitors can observe the ongoing countdown through the glass structure located in the central atrium.
Stand on the upper viewing balcony directly overlooking the giant hourglass to capture its full scale within the pyramid atrium.
Visit on December 31st to witness the annual ceremony where the giant hourglass is flipped to begin the new year's cycle.
Try walking on the nearby Koto-ga-hama beach to experience the auditory 'singing' effect of the sand yourself.
Explore the lower levels of the pyramid structures to see temporary exhibits featuring sand-related art and local geological history.
Do not attempt to touch or lean on the central glass structure of the hourglass, as it is a delicate, calibrated instrument.
Closed every Wednesday; if a national holiday falls on a Wednesday, the museum remains open and may close on the following day.
