The National Museum of Nature and Science is a place where visitors can learn about natural history. It’s useful for educational programs, studying Japanese islands, cultural properties, Japanese inventions, Japanese people, research, and nature. It’s a fun tourist spot where you can spend the entire day. The museum is tourist-friendly; tourists can follow the English sign to find the section they want to visit.
Note: Read my other post about this museum here.
Table of Contents
Location:
The National Museum of Nature and Science is on the northeast side of Ueno Park, Taito City, Tokyo.
The Museum is easy to access by both JR and Subway Lines. Moreover, it is only four stops from Asakusa by Subway Ginza Line and four stops from Tokyo Station by JR Yomonte Line.
Besides, Ameyoko Shopping Street is near the museum, which is one of the most tourist destinations in Tokyo.
See Google Map
History:
The Museum was established in 1871 and is considered one of the oldest museums in Japan.
It had several names, such as the Ministry of Education Museum, the Tokyo Science Museum, the National Science Museum of Japan, etc.
Finally, in 2007, it became the National Museum of Nature and Science.
Kenzo Akitani, a famous government engineer, designed the Museum in 1931, and the main building was completed in September of that year.
Many people say that the building looks airplane-shaped from above.
Besides, the exhibition hall has an experiencing dome for astronomical observation and an auditorium.
What to see?
Tokyo Science Museum is a spot where numerous to see. Visitors can experience the origin of human beings to the present human culture, the great Kanto earthquake, and the Dinosaur skeletons of extinct species of the world.
Visitors get a thrilling experience of the world from the basement level (admission tickets counter) to the last moment of their stay at the museum. This nature science museum also shows how percent science technology is being developed.
Besides, visitors can get information in several languages on the spot using touch screen panels which encourage people to know more about earth life.
Naturally, some of the museums visitors can enjoy only inside. The great thing is visitors can even enjoy some elements from outside without going inside the Ueno Science Museum.
So, the museum can be divided into two-
- Outside
- Inside.
1) What to see Outside?
a) Pleasant premises:
The Ueno National Museum of Nature and Science premises are clean and pleasant to rest in.
In addition, it is also a place to enjoy the beautiful design of the Museum’s building, which most people describe as a breathtaking scene.
b) Giant Whale replica:
What will you do when you see a giant whale on the shore?
That is what visitors experience before going inside the Tokyo Science Museum. It is a replica of a giant blue whale.
However, it is impressive and looks natural. Those who didn’t see the real whale can understand how giant a whale can be.
c) Steam Engine:
The technology of Japan is very advanced. For example, the bullet train technology of Japan is the first in the world. But the development didn’t come in one day.
A Steam locomotive is located in front of the National Museum of Nature and Science, which people can see without entering.
It is worth to be noted that the train is the public transportation in Japan, including Tokyo. Therefore, people can go to different parts of the country using a train.
2) What to see Inside?
There’re numerous fantastic things to see inside the museum.
The National Museum of Science has several floors. It is divided into two separate sections, Japan Gallery and Global Gallery.
Nihonkan, or Japan Gallery, consists of details about Japan.
The gallery was built in 1931, an impressive building where visitors can see characteristics of neo-renaissance architecture, and it was designated as a National Cultural Property in 2008.
Japan Gallery section has four floors, from B1F-3F.
But Global Gallery has six floors, from B3F-3F.
As a result, Global Gallery has more species than Japan Gallery.
Audio guidance for the Museum is available in Japanese, English, and Korean in every room and section.
a) Global Gallery:
Chikyukan, or Global Gallery, has six extensive floors with numerous sections. Visitors can experience dinosaur evolutions, giant pandas, the Honshu wolf, and several animals worldwide.
B1F:
Evolution of Life:
National Museum of Nature and Science has named this floor Evolution of Life. It has various sections, starting from before the existence of dinosaurs.
Visitors can guess the importance of visiting the museum after looking at the elements of the floor.
1F:
History of Earth:
Sometimes, it isn’t easy to know about history only by reading. However, this floor can make it easy about the earth’s history.
The floor is very carefully designed.
It displays past and future creatures together. It also displays trees and plants.
Amazing!
2F:
Technology:
The National Museum of Nature and Science displays technology on this floor.
It is based on scientific knowledge. So, visitors who are not involved with science may not understand all. However, it has perfect topics to learn.
3F:
Animals:
The third floor is designed to display animals.
The section near the escalator is for kids. There are many elements for Kids.
However, children get an idea about science while they play here.
The room is decorated with famous animals from the entrance to the exit point- buffalo, panda, polar bear, etc.
At the same time, a giant dinosaur skeleton is hung on the ceiling.
Next to this children’s section, there is a fantastic animal section. This is the best animal section of the museum.
All kinds of animals are displayed here.
Visitors can go around and see it.
Besides, it also has a touch panel so visitors can access the information they want.
It is a section for children and adults.
b) Japan Gallery:
The Japan Gallery of the National Museum of Nature and Science contains four floors with several sections.
But, these four floors contain enough elements to provide information about Japan.
Visitors get exciting and essential information from every section.
Besides, the building is round, and the middle is hollow. So visitors can see down from the 3rd floor.
B1F:
Theatre 360:
However, the most famous section of the first floor is Theatre 360.
A bird’s eye view represents it in the shape of a propeller plane, representing the cutting-edge technology of the Museum’s time.
Theater 360 is a 3D movie theater with 12.8m in diameter. It was created in 2005, where two are selected per month out of five films rotation.
Visitors can watch it from all directions, 360 degrees, which creates a three-dimensional sensation, the first invention of such type in the world.
1F:
Exhibition Hall:
The most exciting section is Exhibition Hall.
The theme of the temporary exhibition is displayed here so visitors can get a brief idea about the exhibition.
One of the famous exhibitions in the Japan Gallery at the National Museum of Nature and Science is Pokemon.
The museum displays the skeleton of the pokemon.
3F:
Best Floor:
The most exciting section of the Japan Gallery is 3F. Visitors can experience nature and science together here.
The section contains Japanese birds and animals. But it also contains earth and space elements.
This section is like a sound library for science.
3) Nobel Prize & encouragements:
Japan is a leading force in science.
At the same time, Japan is well-known for its scientific advancements.
It has 29 Nobel Laureates till 2021. Among the Laureates, 12 are for physics, 8 for chemistry, 5 for physiology, 3 for literature, and 1 for peace.
A country where many Nobel Laureates are born is advanced in science. Therefore, many Nobel Laureates will be born in Japan in the future.
The children of Japan get excellent encouragement to be scientists and learn about the universe after seeing the National Museum of Nature and Science.
4) Restaurant & Shop:
The museum has numerous facilities.
However, the most useful facilities are the restaurant and the museum shop.
Visitors can eat inside the museum.
In addition, homemade food is allowed here. So, people who take obento from home can eat at the restaurant.
At the same time, visitors also can take their homemade food on the Rooftop of the Global Gallery.
The Global Gallery Rooftop has two sections. One section is a Botanical Garden (herb garden), and another section is for resting. The Botanical Garden contains many precious herbs and is pleasant to walk around, where visitors can do short nature walks.
Interestingly, this rooftop Botanical Garden contains more than 150 rare edible, medicinal, and aromatic herbs. It’s a small part of the Botanical Garden in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, under the National Museum of Nature and Science.The resting section has several benches, and visitors can relax or eat something they bring from home.
On the other hand, the museum shop has very nice souvenirs. Visitors can buy beautiful gifts for their family members here.
Surroundings:
Ueno Park is called the Garden of Tokyo, where several famous museums are located, such as
- Tokyo National Museum
- Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
- Ueno Royal Museum
- National Museum of Nature and Science
- National Museum of Western Art
- National Museum of Kuroda Memorial Hall
- Shitamachi Museum
Besides, Tokyo’s biggest zoo, Ueno Zoo, is only 2 minutes on foot. On the other hand, Tokyo’s famous open Market, Ameyoko Shopping Street, is close to the museum.
The famous shrine of the Edo Period, Ueno Toshugo Shrine, Gojoten Shirne, and Ueno Great Buddha are near the Science Museum.
Opening hours:
09:00-17:00
Closing Times:
Closed Monday
Generally closed on Mondays. But it is open on a national holiday and closes the following Tuesday.
Entrance fee:
Adult: 630 yen
National Science Museum Ticket Prices vary by age and group. However, the general ticket fee is 630 Japanese yen.
Free: High School & Younger
High school students & younger don’t need admission fees.
Note: It was advanced booking required before, but recently such arrangements are not required entering to National Science Museum Tokyo. However, you can book online.
Access:
Nearest station: JR Ueno Station
5 minutes walk(Park Exit).
Address:
Uenokoen, Taito, Tokyo 110-0007, Japan
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