The Uemura Naomi Memorial Museum 植村直己冒険館 is located in the countryside of Toyooka City, Hyogo. It is a tribute to the life and adventures of Uemura Naomi, a world-renowned adventurer and mountaineer born in the same town. The museum offers a deep dive into Uemura’s life, showcasing his many accomplishments and the equipment he used during his adventures.
Uemura’s notable achievements include being the first person to climb to the top of Mt. Denali in Alaska solo in winter, sailing the Amazon River on a handmade raft, and being the first person to reach the North Pole solo by dog sled. His life was tragically cut short during his descent from Mount Denali, where he lost contact and was never heard from again.
The museum exhibits include postcards Naomi wrote to family and friends, providing a personal touch to the exploration of his life. There are also interactive exhibits for both children and adults, such as a climbable dogsled, tent, and a 25 kg backpack visitors can try and carry, emulating Naomi’s experiences during his trips.
Adjacent to the museum is the Donguri Base どんぐりbase, an indoor and outdoor play area that was part of Uemura Naomi’s dream to open a school for children to learn about adventuring and enjoy outdoor activities. It offers a wide array of activities for both children and adults such as tree climbing, a rock climbing wall, camping, and an indoor net playground.
The museum also houses CAFE iNUUK, a small cafe that serves Starbucks coffee, and a gift shop selling Uemura Naomi original goods.
Best accessed by car. Parking is free.
Museum: 550 yen adults, 330 yen kids
Donguri Base: 330 yen adults, 550 yen kids
Museum and Donguri Base: 770 yen adults, 770 yen kids
