Where To Stay

• Tokyo Hotels
• Luxury Hotels
• Business Hotels
• Budget Hotels

Day Trips & More

• Tokyo Tours
• Bullet Train Tours
• Sightseeing Kyoto
• Nara Japan

Getting Around

• Tokyo Trains
• Tokyo Train Map
• Japan Rail Pass
• Bullet Train
• Tokyo Travel
• Tokyo Car Rental

Food and Drink

• Tokyo Food
• Tokyo Izakaya

Tokyo Extras

• Japanese Festivals
• Japanese Calendar
• Tokyo Museums
• Tokyo History

YOUR Tokyo

• Tokyo Video
• Tokyo Fun
• Take Our Poll

Ever Wondered How To...

• Build A Travel Website

Like us? Help us out by giving us a thumbs up with your favorite bookmarking site!

Future Science Museum - The Miraikan

The Future Science Museum is located on the man-made island of Odaiba in Tokyo and houses innovations and research projects to stimulate, baffle, and intrigue the mind.

In Japanese it is called the "Miraikan", which literally translates as "Museum of the Future". In truth it encompasses future science, technology and innovations of all kinds. As a result, it's English title is a little longer, "The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation". Whichever you prefer to use, this one is well worth a visit.

back to top

The Vital Statistics - Hours, Times, Etc.

First up, the necessary menu of opening times, prices, etc. As always, please check the listings at the official museum website to confirm current rates as prices may change.

• Opening hours are from 10:00 - 17:00. Entry must be made 30 minutes before the museum closes for the day.

• The Future Science Museum is closed every Tuesday and from December 28 to January 1.

• Admission fees - Adult ¥500; 18 years and under ¥200 with free entry on Saturday; Preschoolers get in free.

• Entry to Special Exhibitions sometimes costs a little more although not usually more than a couple of hundred yen.

• Access is via the scenic Yurikamome Line via the Telecom Center Station or take the Tokyo subway Rinkai Line via Tokyo Teleport Station. The Yurikamome Line is only a few minutes walk from the Miraikan and gives the easiest access. Tokyo Teleport station is a little further away so add on a 15 minute walk to your journey time.

back to top

What's Inside The Miraikan?

So what will you find inside the Future Science Museum of Tokyo? The main galleries are on the 3rd and 5th floors and are divided into four key areas.

On the third floor you'll find 'Innovation the Future' and 'Information Science and Technology for Society'. On the fifth floor there's 'Life Science' and 'The Earth Environment and Frontiers'.

Also on the 5th floor is the Virtual Reality Theater for some rather awesome 3D images - kids love this one! Go up to the 6th floor to explore the Dome Theater GAIA.

Personally I loved wandering round these galleries. Science was never my strong point at school and talk of genomes and nanotechnology always makes my head spin, but the displays here are set up in a way to demonstrate how things work so that people of all levels can enjoy and take their own understanding from the science on display.

If you are a fully fledged whizz in this field, it's worth knowing that cutting edge research projects are always being conducted in the Miraikan and it is possible to speak with some of the researchers if they happen to be around at the same time as you.

back to top

The Future Science Museum with Kids

Kids love the Future Science Museum in Tokyo. It provides some fantastic interactive displays so they can really get involved with the science they are seeing and try out some of the ideas being suggested.

There are also some rather fun future technology games to have a go at that incorporate touch and the senses in a completely new way. You'll have to visit to find out what I mean by that!

Move onto the space capsule and submarine rig that you can walk around and sit in and Tokyo with kids suddenly becomes a whole lot easier.

Last, but definitely not least, there are the robots. When Asimo or Pino come out to strut their stuff a captive audience is guaranteed... of all ages : )

back to top

Want To Know More?

If you would like to find out more about the Future Science Museum, check current prices, or find out about their special exhibitions, visit the Miraikan and head into the future.