National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo
Located in Ueno Park, the National Museum of Nature and Science is one of Japan’s major museums dedicated to natural history, science and technology. Established in 1877, the museum contains extensive collections covering the evolution of life, the natural environment and developments in scientific understanding.
Exhibitions cover the history of life on Earth including dinosaur skeletons, prehistoric mammals, marine animals, insects and examples of modern biodiversity. Several displays examine human evolution through fossil skulls and skeletal remains. Other collections illustrate differences between animal species and their adaptations to various environments. We really enjoyed the dinosaurs exhibit, as it’s one of the best we’ve seen.
In addition to natural history, the museum includes exhibitions covering scientific and technological developments. These examine subjects such as astronomy, physics, engineering and the history of scientific research in Japan. Historical equipment, machinery and interactive displays explain how scientific knowledge and technology have developed.
The museum’s collections are spread across multiple floors, with exhibits ranging from small fossils and insects to large mounted skeletons. Although much of the explanatory information is in Japanese, many displays also provide English descriptions. For the others, we used Google Translate on our phones.
Getting There
The museum is a 10-minute walk from Ueno Station and can be combined with visits to other museums and attractions in Ueno Park especially the amazing Tokyo National Museum. You can’t miss the museum, as there’s a full size replica of a blue whale outside. Entry to the museum is next to the train.
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