I visited the special exhibition “From the Past to the Present: Archaeological Discoveries and Town Development in Biratori”, currently being held at the Saru River Historical Museum in Biratori Town.

This exhibition introduces nine archaeological sites within the town where excavations were conducted in connection with familiar infrastructure projects such as the Nibutani Dam, Biratori Dam, national highway bypasses, and urban development. The displays include outlines of the surveys as well as photographs comparing the landscapes before excavation with how they appear today.
The exhibition runs until Sunday, June 8. Photography inside the museum and publication of the images were permitted in advance.

Entrance to the Saru River Historical Museum. A banner announcing the special exhibition was displayed.

Free rental bicycles were available near the entrance. Later during the visit, I realized how I would like to use them next time.

Entrance to the special exhibition area.

Inside the exhibition. In addition to photographs and explanatory panels, excavated artifacts such as pottery were on display. The excavation map of the town shows just how many archaeological surveys have been carried out. I was surprised to learn that excavations were also conducted at the very site where the museum now stands. Visitors continued to arrive throughout the day.

Photographs showing the area before and after construction of the Nibutani Dam. Archaeological surveys were conducted in conjunction with the project. Interestingly, the national highway was not relocated, which is quite rare for a dam construction project, and this detail caught my attention.

From the museum’s second-floor terrace, Lake Nibutani spreads out in front. Turning to the left, the Nibutani Dam can be seen.

Heading upstream from the museum, a white birch walking path runs along Lake Nibutani. Birds were flying actively among the trees. I would like to visit again during the lush green season.

Along the trail, I found a monument-like structure. Afterward, I learned that this path is part of the “Biratori Town Historical Walking Trail,” which stretches approximately 3 km along the dam lake from Nibutani Dam to Kankan Bridge upstream. Several monuments like this are located along the route.

During the visit, I also came up with an idea for my next kawatabi (river-side journey): renting a bicycle from the museum and searching for monuments along the “Biratori Town Historical Walking Trail.”

Saru River Historical Museum Mapcode: 442 799 154*06