Experience 70,000 years of Earth history with your own eyes. An invitation to the world's only varve museum

Fukui Prefectural Varve Museum: Welcome to a 70,000-Year Time Journey

The World's Only Varve-Dedicated Museum

The "Fukui Prefectural Varve Museum," standing by Lake Suigetsu in Wakasa Town, Mikatakaminaka District, Fukui Prefecture, opened in 2018 as the world's only museum dedicated to varves.

Here, you can see the actual 70,000-year, 45-meter-long varves extracted from Lake Suigetsu. Each line of the barcode-like pattern represents one year, and visitors marvel at its precision.

Spectacular "Stained Glass" Display

The museum's main attraction is the "varve stained glass" - varves sliced thin to transmit light.

The 45-meter varves are displayed on walls like a giant stained glass window. Light transmission beautifully reveals the varves' fine structure. It's a one-of-a-kind exhibit where you can visually experience the weight of 70,000 years.

Find the Event Layers

Within the varves exist unusual "event layers." Years when special events like volcanic eruptions, major floods, or earthquakes occurred show different varve thickness or color.

At the museum, QR codes let you learn what happened during each event layer. You can see with your own eyes traces of historic disasters like the Kikai Caldera eruption 7,300 years ago and the Aira Caldera eruption 29,000 years ago.

Professor Nakagawa's Research Lab Recreation

The museum features a recreation of Professor Takeshi Nakagawa's "research laboratory" - the leading researcher on Lake Suigetsu.

The varve collection methods, analysis techniques, and research process leading to IntCal (world standard calibration curve) adoption are displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. You can relive how scientists unraveled 70,000 years of history.

Fun for All Ages

The Varve Museum plays an important role in science education:

- Children's workshops: Experience counting varves
- Quiz rallies: Learn Earth's history while touring exhibits
- Special exhibitions: Introducing latest research findings
- Guided tours: Tours with expert commentary

Access Information

Fukui Prefectural Varve Museum
- Address: 122-12-1 Torihama, Wakasa-cho, Mikatakaminaka-gun, Fukui
- Nearest station: About 15 minutes by bus from JR Obama Line "Mikata Station"
- Hours: 9:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
- Closed: Tuesdays (next day if holiday), year-end/New Year
- Admission: Adults 500 yen, Elementary-High school students 200 yen

With an excellent location overlooking Lake Suigetsu, you can enjoy nature walks around Mikata Five Lakes after your museum visit.

Invitation to Time Travel

The Fukui Prefectural Varve Museum is a place where anyone can experience an unfathomable 70,000 years of time.

Each varve line is a record of joys and hardships Earth experienced in the past. The cold of ice ages, terror of volcanic eruptions, and the miracle of stable climate enabling civilization - all are inscribed in these stripes.

Please visit Lake Suigetsu and experience a 70,000-year time journey.

[!] Various theories exist. Information may contain errors.