Stone Museum Hakusekikan is a museum located in Hirukawa, Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture, formerly part of Ena District’s Hirukawa Village. It is operated by Stone Park Co., Ltd. The museum displays a wide variety of minerals and gemstones, including remarkable specimens such as stones exposed to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a rock from the summit of Mount Everest.
The former Hirukawa Village is known for its Ena rust-colored granite, also called Mikage stone, and is one of Japan’s notable mineral-producing areas.
Hakusekikan features a variety of attractions related to stone, including a granite pyramid built to one-tenth the scale of the Great Pyramid of Giza, an outdoor music hall made entirely of marble, and a Crystal Chapel featuring quartz.
One of the museum’s main attractions is its mineral exhibition hall, which showcases rare minerals from around the world, with a particular emphasis on specimens found in the former Hirukawa Village.
The museum’s Egyptian-style pyramid was constructed using approximately 5,500 tons of locally quarried Hirukawa granite. Inside, visitors can explore an underground maze extending approximately 350 meters, discovering the mysterious interior of this remarkable stone structure.
The museum has a temple-inspired restaurant built using stone pillars that are approximately 110 years old. Visitors can enjoy dishes such as pyramid curry, lunch meals, and cake sets.
Café and Restaurant MW (Muu) also serves barbecue featuring lamb and other ingredients, along with dishes prepared using organic vegetables.
One of Hakusekikan’s most popular activities is its gemstone-hunting experience. Visitors can search for approximately 30 types of gemstones and precious stones, with opportunities to create accessories and other items using their discoveries.
The activity area is covered by a roof, so visitors can enjoy the experience even on rainy days. It is popular with families and suitable for everyone from young children to adults.
Hakusekikan’s pyramid is one of the largest structures of its kind in Japan. Built using approximately 5,500 tons of Hirukawa granite, it recreates the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt at one-tenth of its original scale.
The pyramid measures approximately 23 meters along each side of its base, stands 14.6 meters tall, and has an inclination angle of 51.52 degrees. Inside is a stone chamber containing various commemorative items, including a stone exposed to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and a message from the Egyptian ambassador.
Below the pyramid lies a marble maze with a total passage length of approximately 360 meters. Visitors can explore its winding corridors for an adventurous experience inside the stone structure.
The Mining Experience Hall offers a distinctive treasure-hunting activity. Visitors follow a path embedded with gemstones, setting off on an exciting mining-themed adventure. This unusual experience provides surprises and fun for visitors of different ages.
This exhibition facility displays rare minerals from around the world, with a particular focus on minerals found in the former Hirukawa Village.
The Trivia Museum features exhibits related to toilets, offering a quirky and unusual attraction within the complex.
At Stone Park, visitors can search a streambed for approximately 30 to 50 types of gemstones. There are also opportunities to experience gemstone processing and discover how raw stones can be transformed into finished pieces.
The pyramid recreates the Great Pyramid of Giza at one-tenth of its original scale. It measures approximately 23 meters per side and 14.6 meters in height, with an inclination angle of 51.52 degrees. Constructed from local Hirukawa granite, it weighs approximately 5,500 tons and contains an interior maze.
The outdoor music hall is built using approximately 15,000 tons of Italian marble and has a seating capacity of around 5,000 people.
Nekorobi no Mori is a relaxing space that makes use of stone to create a distinctive atmosphere. The name incorporates the unusual character “磊” (rai), formed by replacing the “tree” elements in the Japanese word for forest with the character for stone. The character evokes a gathering of stones.
The bathing facilities include a far-infrared sauna, an open-air bath, beauty treatments, and a gemstone bath, offering visitors opportunities to relax and unwind.
Puton no Mori is an animal interaction area where visitors can meet miniature pigs, sheep, and other animals. The grounds also include ponds for medaka rice fish and crayfish, a wooded area for outdoor activities, and scattered playground equipment.
Stone Museum Hakusekikan offers much more than displays of minerals and gemstones. Its hands-on activities, pyramid maze, dining facilities, and varied attractions provide a full day of entertainment and discovery.
Whether visiting with family, as a couple, or with friends, guests can enjoy an unusual combination of geological learning, outdoor adventure, creative activities, and relaxation in Nakatsugawa City.