The Science Museum Tokyo is ideal for tweens and teens with hands-on learning covering topics from mechanics, CO2, and global warming to robotics. Younger kids can enjoy some of the exhibits, but most of the concepts they will not understand. Although much of the exhibits signage is in Japanese, you can ask to borrow a 25 page English Guidance Booklet which explains what each exhibit is and how to use it. There is a real mix of exhibits from cutting edge and easy to understand to a slightly outdated and very complex. However, the museum staff is very friendly, and many will try to explain to you in English if approached. Great science museum for tweens and teens in
Tokyo. Our other favorite science museums in Tokyo are the Miraikan in Odaiba and The National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno. For all our favorite Tokyo area museums for kids check here.
The Science Museum Tokyo (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
The Science Museum of Tokyo also offers special free 20-30 min workshops and programs throughout the day. Make sure to get an English schedule when you buy your ticket. The workshops are conducted in Japanese, but they are hands on so every non-Japanese speakers will get most of the concepts.
This Science Museum Tokyo is located in Kitanomaru Park which is adjacent to the Imperial Palace grounds and used to be where the extended members of the Imperial family had their residences. The park is a lovely place to enjoy a picnic lunch, and also visit the National Museum of Modern Art.
The Science Museum Tokyo is a five-story building with the following layout. Here is a handy English PDF to help you navigate the floors.
Floor 1: Entry and Museum Shop
Floor 2: Waku Moto Land – all about cars – driving simulations and engineering ** loved this
Room of Manufacturing – 3D Printing and Robots
Bicycle Plaza – history and engineering of bicycles
Floor 3: Denki (Electric Factory) – generation, currents, circuits, and workshops
Atomic Station – fossil fuels, nuclear power, CO2 and global warming
Floor 4: Testunomaru Koen – History and use of iron
Smart community and Robots – get a personal card and play some games while learning science **loved this
Floor 5: Mechanics – lever, wheels, and pulley ** loved this
Optics – trick gallery and black whole
The Science Museum Tokyo
Business Hours: 9:30 – 5:00, Closed Wednesday
Cost: Adults ¥880, middle and high schoolers ¥500 and kids above 4 years ¥400
Address: 2-1 Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo(google map)
Phone: 3-3212-8544
Access: 7 min walk from Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Takebashi Station (Exit 1B), or 10 min walk from the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line/Hanzomon Line/Toei Shinjuku Line Kudanshita Station (Exit 2)
Car and bike parking: There is a large public parking facility next to the museum, and plenty of free bike parking directly to the right of the front door of the museum.
Website: http://www.jsf.or.jp/eng/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JSF_SMT
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If you child loves science and technology, try these great museums and centers in Tokyo.
The Sumida Incineration Plant – learn about how our garbage is processed
The Tokyo Gas Science Museum (Toyosu)
The Tokyo Water Science Musuem (Ariake)
Sona Area Disater Preparedness Center
Miraikan Science Center (Odaiba)
The Science Museum Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku
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