Amakusa Museum of Goshoura Dinosaur Island
天草市立御所浦恐竜の島博物館
A fossil museum on Goshoura Island in the Yatsushiro Sea, displaying Cretaceous dinosaur and ammonite fossils found in Amakusa; the whole island is the core of the Amakusa Goshoura Geopark.
Goshoura Island is known as the 'Dinosaur Island' because of finds of Cretaceous fossils, including the teeth of carnivorous dinosaurs and large ammonites. In 2021 the former Goshoura Cretaceous Museum was converted into the Dinosaur Island Museum, which displays full-body dinosaur skeleton replicas and local fossils, and visitors can take part in fossil collecting experiences. Fossil outcrops and dinosaur statues can be seen all over the island, making it the heart of the Amakusa Goshoura Geopark. Ferries take about 20 to 30 minutes from Tanazoko port near Hondo or from Kamiamakusa Ōdō port. Services are infrequent, so check the timetable in advance. Admission is about 200 yen, and the museum is closed on Mondays.
Opening hours
9:00 am–5:00 pm, closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Mount Kura
- Jumanyama Observatory
- Gion Bridge
- Mount Sengan
- Amakusa Christian Museum
- Mount Takabuto
- Amakusa Collegio Museum
- Amakusa Dolphin Watching (Tsujishima)