Last October, during our trip to Niigata and Snow Peak's HQ1 headquarters and Campfield for Snow Peak Way Premium, we had the opportunity to visit the one-of-a-kind Snow Peak Museum. Founded in 2014 shortly after the opening of the new HQ1, the Snow Peak Museum was a passion project intended to highlight the last 5 decades of Snow Peak history through the products and experiences they created.
I first became familiar with the Snow Peak museum in 2021 after attempting to research some older equipment and gear. Their website for the museum, which acted as a call to owners to return some specific gently used items that would benefit the entire community. The website can still be viewed today, with catalog images of the specific items they were looking for. While not a comprehensive list of everything they've made, it does provide a window to some of the more important and more unique pieces they've developed over the last four decades.
Built in as a permanent structure of HQ1, the tour begins with a short film (subtitled in English), and then visitors are invited to explore the large area that walks through each of the main phases of Snow Peak's history. Tents and tarps are set up in the interior as full camp setups, and smaller more unique items in display cases on the perimeter.
We took our time, exploring each of the exhibits and seeing some incredibly rare items and prototypes. There are more involved tours available to those who speak Japanese, but as we were far from fluent - we opted for a self-guided one.
One of the most interesting pieces lives right outside the entrance door. A large porcelain sign from Yamai Shoten, the original hardware store founded in 1958 by Yukio Yamai that would go on to become Snow Peak.
As we continued to walk around, occasionally asking questions, often poking at product and constantly taking photos - we'd find pieces that I've desired to acquire for some time. Some are feasible, others are impossibilities, but being in the museum as a space that started the journey that would lead me to creating this archive was nothing short of astonishing.
As we continued to browse, the kitchen spaces were without a doubt the most complete. Set up with pots, pans, and spices. Some pieces Snow Peak, some miscellaneous products that Snow Peak used to sell, and other random brands sprinkled throughout.
Even coming into the more modern era of 2003, with the introduction of the Iron Grill Table System, you can see the subtle changes. Each table extension piece was made from plywood instead of the bamboo seen today. It's held up quite well, but with the sharp edges and thinner veneer I'm sure not everything is quite as nice.
Then there were the pieces that you need to be a bit deep into Snow Peak lore to grasp. Like the above mold for the Iron Grill Table Cast Iron Trivet that was once offered.
Additionally, pieces from their Seppou collection circa 2013. Many of these pieces are still being made by the local metalworkers, just without the Snow Peak branding.
Hydrographic transfer sheets and other ephemera were prevalent as well. Little items that were never intended for consumers provided an insightful window to what happens behind the scenes.
A personal grail, the WG Lantern. Identical to the BF Gigapower Lantern currently offered except utilizing White Gas/Gasoline instead of the screw on canisters.
While a bit out of the way from Kyoto/Tokyo and the Golden Route many visitors take through Japan, Sanjo, and specifically HQ1's museum are a fantastic way to see a bit more of Snow Peak than you would otherwise.
