Yokogurayama Natural Forest Museum

Mt. Yokogura is known for discoveries of coral and trilobite fossils that are more than 400 million years old. It is also the mountain where Dr. Tomitaro Makino, who laid the foundation of Japanese botany, conducted much of his research. As well as many of the plants he discovered which still grow wild, it is also the site of a virgin akagashi red oak forest and tall cedar trees, rare in Japan. The mountain is also said to have been one of the possible locations to which the child Emperor Antoku fled with remnants of the ancient Heike samurai clan after their defeats at the famous battles of Yashima and Dannoura at the end of the 12th century.

Yokogurayama Natural Forest Museum exhibits fossils, rocks, plants, and historical artifacts from Mt. Yokogura, and introduces the nature and history of the local area. In addition, visitors can learn about the evolution of life and the history of the earth through fossils from around the world. On the 3rd Floor there is an exhibition space dedicated to the hit anime movie BELLE (Ryu to sobakasu no hime), directed by Mamoru Hosoda, the setting for which was inspired by Ochi Town where Mt. Yokogura is located. The main attraction is a huge statue of the character Ryu, created by Kochi figure manufacturer Kaiyodo.