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 There is a real mix of exhibits from cutting edge and easy to understand to a slightly outdated and very complex.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

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 720 JPY, middle and high schoolers 410 JPY and kids above 4 years 260 JPY
Address: 2-1 Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 3-3212-8544
Website: http://www.jsf.or.jp/eng/

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.

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The Science Museum Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku

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