Watarase Nature Museum is an information and educational facility located in Ebise, Itakura Town, Ora District, Gunma Prefecture. It introduces the natural environment, history, and culture of the Watarase Retarding Basin, one of the largest wetlands in the Kanto region.
Located near the entrance to the vast wetland, the museum serves as a convenient starting point for visitors who want to learn more about the area’s unique natural environment before exploring it for themselves.
The facility occupies a charming rice granary built with Oya stone that has been renovated for public use. The combination of the historic building and the surrounding natural environment creates a distinctive and welcoming atmosphere.
Inside, visitors can learn about the plants and animals that inhabit the Watarase Retarding Basin through exhibits, explanatory materials, three-dimensional models, and other displays.
The museum also features a lounge and multipurpose room and serves as a local cultural center where concerts, special exhibitions, and environmental education programs are held. For tourists and nature enthusiasts, it is an ideal place to begin exploring the Watarase Retarding Basin.
Watarase Nature Museum was established to introduce the natural attractions of the Watarase Retarding Basin, one of the most important wetland environments in the Kanto region.
The Watarase Retarding Basin extends across four prefectures—Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, and Ibaraki. Covering approximately 3,300 hectares, it is one of the largest flood-control wetlands in Japan and an area roughly 700 times the size of Tokyo Dome.
The vast wetland supports more than 660 species of plants, along with numerous birds, insects, fish, and other wildlife. Its valuable natural environment was internationally recognized in 2012, when it was designated as a Ramsar Convention wetland.
Today, the area is enjoyed for nature observation, recreation, sports, and a variety of outdoor activities.
At Watarase Nature Museum, the ecosystem and historical background of the retarding basin are explained through models, specimens, photographs, and video materials. Visitors who are unfamiliar with the area can gain a basic understanding here, making their subsequent exploration of the wetland even more rewarding.
One of the museum’s distinctive features is the building itself. The facility was created by renovating a traditional rice granary constructed from Oya stone, a famous stone quarried in Tochigi Prefecture.
Oya stone is relatively soft and easy to work with and has traditionally been used for storehouses, walls, and other buildings throughout the Kanto region.
The substantial stone exterior creates a calm atmosphere that evokes the area’s history, while the interior provides a comfortable space where visitors can take their time viewing the exhibits.
By making use of a historic building, the museum serves not only as an exhibition facility but also as a place where the region’s history and cultural heritage can be passed on to future generations.
The museum’s exhibition room features a variety of displays designed to help visitors understand the natural environment of the Watarase Retarding Basin.
At the center of the room is a large diorama model of the entire retarding basin. It provides a three-dimensional view of the vast wetland, waterways, surrounding terrain, and other geographical features.
Viewing the model makes it easier to understand the overall layout of the wetland and provides useful background knowledge before heading out to explore the actual site.
The exhibition room also contains a wide variety of materials, including plant replicas and specimens, explanatory panels about the local ecosystem, insect and butterfly specimens collected from around the world, and photographs showing the seasonal scenery of the Watarase Retarding Basin.
The collection of more than 300 species of butterflies and other insects is particularly impressive and appeals to a wide range of visitors, from children interested in insects to those with a deeper interest in natural history.
Monitors along the walls also show footage of birds and seasonal landscapes from the retarding basin. Combined with gentle background music, these images create a relaxing atmosphere reminiscent of the natural environment outside.
The facility also has a comfortable lounge where visitors can take a break. A wide selection of tourism brochures for the Watarase Retarding Basin and Itakura Town is available, allowing visitors to browse information about walking routes, sightseeing spots, and other local attractions.
The lounge is particularly convenient for visitors who stop at the museum during a walk or cycling trip around the wetland and want to rest while planning their next destination.
Natural light enters through the large windows, creating a peaceful setting where visitors can enjoy a quiet break.
The museum has a multipurpose room that can accommodate approximately 60 people and is used for a variety of events.
A large LCD monitor provides videos introducing the nature and history of the Watarase Retarding Basin as well as the culture and everyday life of Itakura Town.
Visitors can also view live camera footage from cameras installed around the retarding basin. This makes it possible to check current weather and conditions in the area before setting out to explore.
The multipurpose room regularly hosts cultural events that are open to local residents and visitors, including concerts, photography exhibitions, painting exhibitions, and pottery exhibitions.
Through these activities, the museum serves as a place where nature, art, and local community life come together.
Near Watarase Nature Museum is the Itakura Rental Bicycle Center, where visitors can rent bicycles and explore the Watarase Retarding Basin.
Because the wetland covers such a vast area, cycling is an especially convenient way to see more of its scenery. Visitors can ride along greenways and cycling paths while enjoying expansive reed beds, waterways, and lakeside landscapes.
Exploring by bicycle also allows visitors to experience the natural environment at a relaxed pace while covering a greater distance than on foot.
March to October: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
November to February: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Adults: 600 yen per day; 400 yen for up to 4 hours
Children: 300 yen per day; 200 yen for up to 4 hours
By bicycle, visitors can explore more of the wetland’s attractions, including Yanaka Lake, the Wildlife Observation Tower, and the expansive reed beds.
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mondays and Tuesdays, public holidays, and the year-end/New Year holiday period from December 28 to January 3.
Exhibition Room
Lounge
Multipurpose Room
Meeting Room
Specimen and Administrative Room
Watarase Nature Museum is a convenient place to learn about the natural environment and history of the Watarase Retarding Basin while planning an itinerary for exploring the area.
Understanding the overall scale and characteristics of the enormous wetland before entering it can greatly enhance the way visitors experience its landscapes and wildlife.
Whether you are interested in nature observation, cycling, walking, or local history, stopping at Watarase Nature Museum before exploring the wetland is an excellent way to begin your visit.
With its combination of natural history, local culture, and a historic Oya-stone building, the museum is a worthwhile destination for anyone visiting Itakura Town and the Watarase Retarding Basin.