A Museum with Two Distinctive Buildings
The museum consists of two main buildings: the Main Building and the Activation Center, which serves as an annex.
The single-story Main Building contains exhibition galleries as well as a museum shop and restaurant. The three-story annex is designed to resemble a Mongolian temple, giving the museum an unusual and memorable appearance.
Dinosaurs from Mongolia
One of the museum’s highlights is its collection of valuable dinosaur fossils from Mongolia.
A full-body reconstruction of an approximately 8.5-meter-long Tarbosaurus is among the impressive displays. Another famous specimen is the so-called “Fighting Dinosaurs”, a fossil preserving a Velociraptor and Protoceratops apparently locked in combat.
This remarkable fossil was discovered in 1971 and preserves an extraordinary moment from the distant past. It is thought to record two animals that died during a sandstorm. The specimen also symbolizes the scientific relationship between Kanna and Mongolia, regions that were geographically connected in the distant geological past.
A Life-Size Tyrannosaurus Display
In the outdoor area connecting the Main Building and the annex stands a 12-meter-long replica of a Tyrannosaurus skeleton in its original fossilized position.
The full-size model is based on specimen MOR555, known as the Wankel Rex, discovered in Montana, USA. Unlike a conventional display case, this outdoor exhibit allows visitors to get close to the skeleton and observe it from different angles.
Fossil Slab Gallery
The museum’s fossil slab gallery displays beautifully preserved fossils, including ammonites and orthocerids. These specimens provide a glimpse into the long history of life on Earth, extending back hundreds of millions of years.
Explore the World of Dinosaurs Through Nine Exhibition Zones
The museum’s exhibitions are organized into nine zones, covering the geology of the local Sanchu Graben, trace fossils, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and marine life.
Approximately 200 specimens are displayed throughout the museum. Another interesting feature is that the exhibitions can be updated when new fossils are discovered in Kanna, allowing the museum to reflect ongoing discoveries in the region.
ZONE 1: Following the Footprints of Dinosaurs
The first zone introduces visitors to fossilized dinosaur footprints, including tracks attributed to iguanodontian dinosaurs.
The shape of the footprints provides clues about how these animals walked. The exhibition also explains the history of the discovery of Japan’s first dinosaur footprint fossils in Kanna, offering an exciting introduction to the prehistoric world.
The Sanchu Graben
The Sanchu Graben, which extends through Kanna, contains valuable geological formations dating from the Early Cretaceous period.
Among the displays is a backbone fossil of an ornithomimosaur discovered in 1981. The exhibits help visitors understand what the environment of this region was like approximately 130 million years ago.
Live Theater: “Dinosaurs Come Back to Life”
One of the museum’s most popular attractions is its live dinosaur theater, where life-sized dinosaur robots appear in a dramatic prehistoric setting.
A researcher character and the museum mascot, Saurus-kun, guide visitors through the story as realistic dinosaur figures recreate the world of Late Cretaceous Mongolia.
The combination of moving dinosaur robots, sound, and theatrical effects creates an exciting experience for both children and adults.
Dinosaurs and Pterosaurs from Around the World
The museum also introduces dinosaur and pterosaur fossils discovered outside Japan. Exhibits include a Chasmosaurus from Canada and an Anhangüera from Brazil.
These specimens demonstrate the remarkable diversity of prehistoric life around the world and allow visitors to compare fossils from different regions.
The Seas of the Dinosaur Age
The Mesozoic world was not limited to land. The museum also explores the ancient oceans through fossils of marine creatures that lived alongside dinosaurs.
Displays include the enormous fish Ichthyodectes and various ammonites, offering a fascinating look at marine ecosystems during the age of dinosaurs.
Fossils from Kanna
Fossils discovered in Kanna include four types of dinosaur fossils, as well as shark teeth and fossils of crustaceans such as Hoploparia.
These specimens demonstrate why the region is considered an important source of fossils and provide visitors with a direct connection to the prehistoric history beneath their feet.
Dinosaurs of Mongolia
The second floor of the annex is devoted to dinosaurs from Mongolia. Approximately 20 specimens are displayed, including the 8.5-meter-long reconstructed Tarbosaurus and the famous Fighting Dinosaurs fossil of a Velociraptor and Protoceratops.
The large-scale displays create an atmosphere filled with the sense of adventure and scientific discovery associated with dinosaur exploration.
Learning and Exchange Room
The Learning and Exchange Room explores the evolution of dinosaurs into birds through specimens such as Sinosauropteryx, a feathered dinosaur.
Displays comparing the structure and characteristics of feathers provide visitors with an introduction to the scientific evidence behind the evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and modern birds.
Dinosaur Fossils Discovered in Kanna
Kanna has produced several important dinosaur fossils. These include the vertebra known as “Sanchuryu” or the “Sanchu Dragon,” regarded as the first dinosaur fossil discovered in the Kanto region.
Other discoveries include spinosaurid teeth, theropod teeth, and teeth belonging to titanosauriform sauropods.
One of the spinosaurid teeth is particularly notable because it was discovered by a child who participated in a fossil excavation program. This example demonstrates how hands-on educational activities can contribute to actual fossil discoveries and scientific research.
Hands-On Programs and Community Activities
Kanna Town Dinosaur Center offers a variety of hands-on programs, including fossil excavation experiences, replica-making workshops, and coloring activities.
The museum shop also sells handmade dinosaur figures, and visitors can watch some of the figures being produced through a window. This gives guests an additional opportunity to see how dinosaur-themed crafts are created.
Every November, the town hosts the Dinosaur Kingdom Autumn Festival, featuring special events and activities related to the area’s prehistoric heritage.
The Story of Kanna’s “Dinosaur Kingdom”
The area’s dinosaur story developed through a series of important discoveries. In 1953, fossilized ripple marks known as Sazanami-iwa were discovered. Dinosaur fossils were found in 1981, followed by the identification of dinosaur footprints in 1985.
These discoveries led the former Nakazato Village to declare itself a “Dinosaur Kingdom.” The Dinosaur Center opened in 1987, becoming the central facility for this initiative.
Following the municipal merger in 2003, the facility became known as the Kanna Town Dinosaur Center. A major renovation was carried out in 2019, making the museum easier and more enjoyable to explore.
Access and Nearby Attractions
From Shinmachi Station on the JR Takasaki Line, the museum can be reached by bus in approximately 105 minutes. The bus stop is located directly in front of the Dinosaur Center.
By car, the museum is approximately 80 minutes from the Honjo-Kodama Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. Parking is available at the museum.
Nearby attractions include Sebayashi’s fossilized ripple marks, designated a natural monument by Gunma Prefecture, as well as a site where visitors can participate in fossil excavation activities.
Visiting these locations together provides a deeper understanding of Kanna’s unique geology and the prehistoric discoveries that made the town famous.
See, Touch, and Experience the Dinosaur Age
Kanna Town Dinosaur Center is more than a museum where visitors simply look at fossils. Through interactive exhibits, life-size replicas, theatrical presentations, and hands-on programs, visitors can experience the prehistoric world in a more direct way.
Surrounded by the mountains of Kanna, the museum offers a fascinating opportunity to imagine a world that existed more than 100 million years ago.
With its dinosaur fossils, geological exhibits, interactive experiences, and connection to local discoveries, the museum is an engaging destination for families, students, and anyone interested in dinosaurs, fossils, geology, or the ancient history of Earth.