A new standard for Nagasaki travel! A thorough report on the highlights of the dinosaur museum!

In 2004, Nagasaki's first dinosaur fossils were discovered at Nomozaki, located at the tip of the Nagasaki Peninsula, and this led to the discovery of a stratum dating back to the age of dinosaurs 8100 million years ago, which was named the Mitsuse Formation. Since then, more than 1300 fossils have been mined, making the area around Nomozaki one of Japan's most sacred sites for dinosaurs. In 2021, Japan's third dinosaur museum was opened in a place overlooking the seascape of the Mitsuse Formation. The area surrounding the museum has been developed as the ``Nagasaki Mozaki Dinosaur Park,'' where visitors can enjoy dinosaur-themed play equipment and giant dinosaur objects.

When you arrive at the Venex Dinosaur Museum, check out the permanent exhibits, which are full of things to see! From the evolution of living things to the age of dinosaurs and modern dinosaurs, the exhibits are organized into five themes and are displayed in chronological order. First, you will learn about the geological strata of Nagasaki through the wall illustrations and rock specimens in the "Land of Nagasaki" section. In the "Records of Life" section, you can observe the evolutionary process of eyes and jaws of living things by touching and looking at them in a hands-on exhibit. The eye structure suited to each environment is reproduced with special lenses, and when you actually look through them, you will be surprised at how different they are from humans. There are also fun exhibits introducing living things from the Precambrian era before the birth of dinosaurs to the Paleozoic era.

``The Age of Dinosaurs'' is lined with approximately 180 specimens, including impressive skeletal replicas and real fossils discovered in Nagasaki. The main attraction, the world's largest full-body replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex, was brought from our sister city, Leiden, and is approximately 13 meters long. This is a valuable and well-preserved specimen of Tyrannosaurus rex. The fossil tooth of a large species of tyrannosaurid was discovered for the first time in Japan in Nagasaki City, and based on its size, it is assumed that the total length is about 10 meters. You can see real fossils, so be sure to check them out.

The large mural that covers one wall is a reconstruction of a dinosaur whose size and shape have been recreated based on fossils discovered in Nagasaki. It depicts tyrannosaurids, pterosaurs, crocodiles, and more, expressing the richness of Nagasaki's ecosystem. Also, from 15 to 30 minutes after every hour, the large curtains on the window side open! (Times vary depending on the season) If you look at the dinosaur fossils against the backdrop of the ocean, which can see all the way to Gunkanjima, the contrast with the ocean stands out and gives it a slightly different look.

After the age of dinosaurs, time passed and mammals entered the world. In the ``Era of Burning Stones,'' which explains the evolution of mammals and the time when coal mines were formed, the first real mammal fossil discovered in Nagasaki is on display. It was discovered in a coal mine that connects Hashima (Gunkanjima) and Takashima, and it is said that this led to a focus on fossil mining, which led to the discovery of dinosaur fossils. When you go up to the second floor, a reconstructed robot of the tyrannosaurid family with a total length of about 2 meters appears! Based on the latest theory, even the feathers and scales have been recreated, and the sight of them moving so dynamically as if they were alive, sniffing and barking loudly, was so impressive that it made me recoil. The graphic display of birds, which are said to be the survivors of dinosaurs, is also worth seeing! There are many wild birds flying around Nomozaki, so if you look out the window you might see real wild birds.

After touring the permanent exhibition, head to the open lab where you can see fossil research in progress. You can see the storage room, the cleaning process where fossils are carved out of rocks, and the valuable X-ray CT scanner. You may be able to witness new discoveries in the laboratory, which is equipped with equipment that is rare in Japan and conducts the latest research. Check out the souvenirs at the museum shop. There are also elaborate dinosaur figures, stuffed animals, and real fossils, so you can enjoy spending time choosing from a museum-like selection of items.

"Nagasaki Mozaki Dinosaur Park" is a complex facility centered around the Nagasaki City Dinosaur Museum. Dinosaur Park has a lot more to offer than museums. The Gunkanjima Museum introduces the history and culture of Gunkanjima through panel exhibits and videos. It has a reputation for its impressive exhibits, which show the stressful working conditions in a coal mine under the seabed less than 600 meters underground, as well as scenes of people's daily lives. Furthermore, in the "Children's Square", which is crowded with families, there are many unique dinosaur-inspired play equipment! There is also "Daffodil Hill" where about 1000 million daffodils are planted, and you can see Gunkanjima from three observation decks. For lunch, we went to the takeout specialty store "NOMOZAKI SHOP GAOGAO." The popular ``Dinosaur Sandwich'', which is a chicken kebab sandwiched between pita bread, has an authentic taste and is sourced from a kebab shop run by a Turkish man. You can choose from three types of homemade sauce: sweet, medium-spicy, and dry, and the medium-spicy flavor I received this time had a tangy spiciness that brought out the deliciousness of the meat. There is learning, play equipment, and gourmet food! Enjoy the Mozaki Dinosaur Park in Nagasaki.

There are still many places I would like to visit in Nomozaki. Meoto Iwa, which appears on National Route 499 along the coast, is one of them. This rock was formed about 4 million years ago, and is also known as a photo spot where you can see Gunkanjima from between the rocks. Also, approximately 8 minutes by car from the Dinosaur Museum is Takahama Beach, which has been selected as one of Japan's ``10 Best Beaches'' and ``Japan's XNUMX Best Beaches.'' The contrast between the white sandy beach and the cobalt blue sea is truly spectacular. Not only during the summer swimming season, but just looking at the ocean will give you an extraordinary feeling.

The Nomozaki area, where many attractions are located along the coast, is about 45 minutes by car from Nagasaki city, which is the base for sightseeing in Nagasaki. We recommend starting at the Dinosaur Museum and taking a drive while admiring the ocean, where dinosaur fossils continue to be discovered.