Churui Naumann's Elephant Memorial Museum - Hokkaido

Churui Naumann's Elephant Memorial Museum (忠類ナウマン象記念館) is a local history museum that highlights. It is located at 383-1 Churuishiroganemachi in the town of Makubetsu, Nakagawa District, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

Churui Naumann's Elephant Memorial Museum

Churui Naumann’s Elephant Memorial Museum Details

The Churui Naumann’s Elephant Memorial Museum is a one-of-a-kind destination that combines fascinating prehistoric history with award-winning architecture. Opened in August 1988, this museum was built to commemorate the remarkable discovery of a Naumann’s elephant fossil in Churui and has since become one of Tokachi’s most unique attractions.

Churui Naumann's Elephant Memorial Museum - Makubetsu town, Hokkaido Prefecture

An Architectural Masterpiece Inspired by an Ancient Giant

The museum itself is a sight to behold. Winner of the 1st Hokkaido Architecture Award, its design is modeled after the majestic form of the extinct Naumann’s elephant. When viewed from above, the central dome represents the body, the exhibition rooms at the four corners serve as the legs, and the main entrance forms the head. The 100-meter-long walkway leading to the entrance—aptly called the “Path of Time”—symbolizes the elephant’s long trunk and tusks.

忠類ナウマン象記念館

Outside Churui Naumann's Elephant Memorial Museum

Naumann elephant statues are displayed near the museum

Even the exterior walls are embedded with boulders, mimicking the elephant’s skin. Along the walkway, copper plates illustrate the evolutionary journey from prehistoric life to the rise of humankind, creating the feeling of stepping into a time tunnel that transports visitors from the present day to the Ice Age.

Churui Naumann's Elephant Memorial Museum's floor map

The Naumann’s Elephant – Japan’s Prehistoric Icon

The Naumann’s elephant (Palaeoloxodon naumanni) once roamed the Japanese archipelago and East Asia during the late Pleistocene epoch, around 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. Slightly smaller than modern Asian elephants, it stood about 2.5 to 3 meters tall and was adapted to the frigid Ice Age climate with a thick coat of hair and a substantial layer of fat.

Inside Churui Naumann's Elephant Memorial Museum*

* I posted only a handful of photos of the exhibits, and I purposely didn't label them so that you would only get a glimpse of what the Churui Naumann's Elephant Memorial Museum has to offer. Please visit it and enjoy it with your own eyes.

The museum tells the story of this incredible creature through life-sized reconstructions, detailed panels, and engaging video presentations. It also showcases the dramatic discovery of the fossil in July 1969, when workers stumbled upon bones during a farm road construction project in Churui Bansei.

Rare Fossil Discovery in Hokkaido

The excavation yielded 46 fossil bones, including tusks, teeth, ribs, scapulae, and leg bones—an exceptionally rare find, as nearly an entire skeleton was preserved. From these discoveries, 23 reconstructed Naumann’s elephant skeletons have been reproduced and are now displayed not only in Hokkaido but also in museums across Japan and abroad.

At the original excavation site, visitors can find a monument and information panels that recount the conditions of the dig and the significance of the fossils. Adding to its scientific value, later excavations uncovered a mammoth molar and even the first fossilized Naumann’s elephant footprints ever discovered in Hokkaido.

Team Nicerio visits Churui Naumann’s Elephant Memorial Museum

My family and I visited Churui Naumann’s Elephant Memorial Museum for the first time on November 4, 2023, the second day of our three-day Culture Day Road Trip. This also marked my 733rd day in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. As part of our Hokkaido 179 travel goals, we made sure to include the roadside station in our itinerary. My daughter and I enjoyed exploring the fascinating exhibits and learned so much about the prehistoric Naumann’s elephant. In my opinion, this museum is truly one of the best in the region and a must-visit for travelers interested in history and culture.

 

Churui Naumann’s Elephant Memorial Museum Admission Fee

Admission is 300 yen for adults and 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students, with discounted rates available for groups of 10 or more.

Churui Naumann’s Elephant Memorial Museum Operating Hours

Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:45 PM)
Closed: Tuesdays (or the next day if Tuesday is a public holiday) and December 29 – January 3.

Note: The museum is open on Tuesdays during Golden Week and local summer school holidays.

Why visit Churui Naumann’s Elephant Memorial Museum?

The Churui Naumann’s Elephant Memorial Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Tokachi in Hokkaido. Its iconic elephant-shaped architecture, which won the Hokkaido Architecture Award, immediately captures attention and sets the stage for the wonders inside. The museum houses rare fossils and reconstructed skeletons from one of Japan’s most significant prehistoric discoveries, offering a fascinating look at the Naumann’s elephant. This creature once roamed the Japanese archipelago during the Pleistocene epoch. Visitors can also learn about fossil excavation techniques, Ice Age adaptations, and the broader history of prehistoric fauna through interactive displays and detailed exhibits.

Getting to Churui Naumann's Elephant Memorial Museum

 

From Obihiro Station, head to platform 11 of the Obihiro Station Bus Terminal and board bus #60 Hiroo Line operated by the Tokichi Bus Company. Board down at Naumanzo kinenkan mae bus stop. 

From there, walk for about 210 meters to the museum. 

Fare: 1350 yen

Travel time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

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