National Museum of Nature and Science
The National Museum of Nature and Science is in Ueno. It is another popular family-oriented 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. Download the audio guide to your smartphone. The commentary is good and will guide you through everything.
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. From dinosaurs to deepsea submarines and spaceflight, it’s all covered. This area is fun.
Taking up three floors is the Japan gallery. Exhibits include natural history, science, and technology. It has species that lived and died in the archipelago. Some of the technologies that man created to observe nature are included. There are telescopes, globes, clocks, and seismographs.
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 he is there.
The Permanent Exhibit houses Theatre 360. Movies change every month and run for ten minutes. As the name implies, you can view the content in every direction. I enjoy its content, but heard complaints from others. Narration is in Japanese, which is problematic for some.
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’ve covered a lot. There are so many exhibits, including dinosaurs and spaceships. Do you remember me talking about the secret photo spot? Look up in the second floor’s lobby. There is 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:
- It can be very dark in places. High ISO is necessary.
- Glare and reflections on the display windows.
- When crowded, work around the people.
Where is the Museum?
Address: 7-20 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo
Here it is on a Google map:
Train access
Ueno Station 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 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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
Nearby photo spots:
Conclusion
The National Museum of Nature and Science will interest certain photographers, namely those who love things technical and scientific. There is much to keep them happy. It is a great place to spend an afternoon!
But for most photographers, it probably isn’t a must-see. Still, there is some stuff worth photographing. It has Hachiko and that wonderful ceiling.
Leave questions and comments below. If you have visited this museum, please tell us what you think.
More museum articles:
External related websites:
- National Museum of Nature and Science (official website)