National Museum of Nature and Science

National Museum of Nature and Science blue whale exhibit
The blue whale outside the museum.

The National Museum of Nature and Science is in Ueno. It is another popular family place in Tokyo. There are tens of thousands of exhibits dating from the prehistoric to the modern period. Many are from from pre-Meiji Japan. And it is the resting place of a well-known Tokyoite! On top of that, it has a secret photo spot.

I do need to say one thing. Most of the museum’s exhibit plaques are in Japanese. That’s okay because you can download an audio guide to your smartphone. The commentary is quite good and will help you understand many things.

Anyway, let’s move to the exhibits of the National Museum of Nature and Science. There are two areas for them, the Japan and Global galleries. They are pretty big and will take a long time to walk through.

The Global Gallery explores the evolution of life on Earth.  Everything looks at everything from dinosaurs to deepsea submarines and spaceflight. It’s a fun area.

Then there is the Japan gallery. It takes up three floors.  Inside are exhibits of natural history, science, and technology. It has species that have lived and died in the archipelago. There are also some of the technologies man created to observe nature. Some exhibits include early telescopes, globes, clocks, and seismographs.

Hachiko stuffed dog
Hachi at the museum.

And this is where you will find our celebrity! It is Hachi (or Hachiko if you prefer), the famous dog. His grave is in Aoyama Cemetery, but his body was stuffed and placed in this museum. Many people have no idea his body is there.

The Permanent Exhibit also houses Theatre 360. Movies change every month and run for ten minutes. It is suspended above the floor so you will see everything around you. I’ve enjoyed its content, but I have heard some people who didn’t think they were so great. And the narration is in Japanese. That will be problematic for some people.

Triceratops fossil display
The bones of a triceratops.

The other gallery is for special exhibits! It changes four times a year, and tickets are extra. The prices for them depend on what is on display. Some past ones have included Egyptian mummies, baby dinosaurs, and chocolate. They were worth it.

I think I’ve already covered a lot.  There are so many exhibits, including dinosaurs and spaceships.  Do you remember me talking about the secret photo spot?  On the second floor, in the lobby, look up.  You will see a fantastic ceiling.  It is gorgeous.  If you enjoy architectural photography, it might well justify the price of admission!

National Museum of Nature and Science Photography problems

  • Photography at the museum can be difficult. Here is a list of things I’ve noticed:
  • Like many museums, it can be very dark in places. High ISO will be necessary.
  • Glare and reflections on the display windows.
  • It can get crowded, so you need to work around people.

Where is the Museum?

Address: 7-20 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo

Here it is on a Google map:

Closest train station

Ueno is the most convenient! It is served by many JR (including the Yamanote) and Tokyo Metro lines. The Park Exit is closest to the museum.

Opening hours

  • 9 AM to 5 PM with last entry thirty minutes before closing.
  • It is closed every Monday. The museum will open and close the following day if it is a national holiday.
  • It also closes from December 28 to January 1 (the New Year vacation).

Admission costs

¥630

Conclusion

The National Museum of Nature and Science will interest certain photographers. They will be the ones who love things technical and scientific. There is much to keep them happy. But it is a great place to spend an afternoon!

National Museum of Nature and Science ceiling
Isn't this a beautiful ceiling?

But for most photographers, it probably isn’t a must-see. Still, there is some stuff worth some photographs. It does have Hachiko and that wonderful ceiling.

Leave questions and comments below. If you have been to this museum, tell us what you think. 

For more museum articles, look at these:

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