[Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture] Experience fossil excavation at the Ammonite Center! Introducing spots where you can create specimens

Iwaki City is attracting attention as a city where you can come into contact with ancient fossils. At the Ammonite Center, you can actually experience excavating with a chisel and hammer.

At the Iwaki City Coal and Fossil Museum Horuru, you can see a full-body reconstructed model of a giant dinosaur and try your hand at making an ammonite specimen.

Let's go on a journey to encounter fossils in Iwaki City.

Excavation experience at “Ammonite Center”

"Iwaki City Ammonite Center" is located in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. Here you can experience fossil excavation. Many people come for this purpose.

The place where you can experience excavation was once under the sea. Therefore, shark teeth, ammonites, bivalves, etc. appear.

What you need for excavation

Basically, the tools needed for excavation work can be lent. However, you need to prepare for the following three points.

For excavation, you will need a helmet, goggles, chisel, and hammer. These can be borrowed from the center.

Overview of excavation experience

The excavation experience is divided into a morning session (10:00-11:30) and an afternoon session (1:30-15:00). It is held on Saturday and Sunday. Reception begins one hour before the experience starts. Advance reservations are not possible, so if you wish to experience the experience, you must complete the registration process before the experience.

There is a fee for the experience in addition to the admission fee. The general admission fee is 250 yen for viewing only, but the general admission fee for viewing + excavation experience is 710 yen.

Even beginners can excavate without problems

You can freely search for points in the designated area and enjoy excavation. The staff will teach you tips on excavation, so even those with no experience can find some fossils.

There is a tendency to hit the chisel straight, but the key to successful excavation is to hit diagonally as if peeling away the geological formations. The staff will explain these points in an easy-to-understand manner.

Excavated fossils can be taken home

Most of the fossils that are actually excavated can be taken home. However, there are exceptions if you find a very rare fossil. In that case, it will be preserved and exhibited at the center, and the excavator's name will be published in the newspaper.

After all, it's fun to excavate in search of rare fossils. This is an experiential event that both adults and children can enjoy.

Iwaki City Ammonite Center <Information>

• Name: Iwaki City Ammonite Center
• Address: 147-2 Okutsurubo, Oku-cho, Iwaki-shi, Fukushima 979-0338
• Phone number: 0246-82-4561
• Official URL: http://www.ammonite-center.jp/

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Let's make ammonite specimens at "Iwaki City Coal and Fossil Museum Horuru"

In Iwaki City, you can also come into contact with dynamic fossils at the Coal and Fossil Museum Horuru. Here, you can especially admire giant dinosaur fossils.

There are very rare exhibits such as the Futaba Suzukiryu and full-body fossils of dinosaurs. On Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, workshops are held where you can create ammonite and amber specimens. This is also an event that both adults and children can enjoy.

Iwaki City is also famous as a coal town. The former mock mine shaft is also worth seeing. The state of coal mining has been beautifully revived.

Iwaki City Coal and Fossil Museum Horuru＜Information＞

• Name: Iwaki City Coal and Fossil Museum Horuru
• Address: 3-1 Mukoda, Tokiwa Yumoto-cho, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture 972-8321
• Phone number: 0246-42-3155
• Official URL: https://www.sekitankasekikan.or.jp/

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Summary of Iwaki City, which is full of fossil spots

Iwaki City is full of spots where you can experience the charm of fossils. It's fun to actually excavate fossils and create specimens.

By touching fossils that have carved out ancient history, you can experience emotions that you cannot normally experience.