The National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno Park is Japan’s national science museum, and one of the best rainy-day options in Tokyo for families. Dinosaur skeletons, a life-size blue whale outside, Japanese wildlife, space and technology exhibits fill two large buildings.
Entry is cheap for adults and free for under-18s, and most displays have English labels.
Plan your visit to National Museum of Nature and Science
- Adults around ¥630; under 18 free
- 9:00–17:00; closed Mondays
- Time needed: 2–3 hours
History of National Museum of Nature and Science
The museum traces its history back to 1877, making it one of the oldest museums in Japan. It has changed names several times and took its current name in 2007.
The Japan Gallery is housed in a Neo-Renaissance building completed in 1931 during reconstruction after the Great Kanto Earthquake. It is said to look like an aeroplane from above and was designated an Important Cultural Property in 2008. The newer Global Gallery opened alongside it in the 2000s. The collection holds more than 5 million items.
Attractions at National Museum of Nature and Science
- Japan Gallery: the natural history of the Japanese islands, from geology and fossils to plants, animals and the arrival of people, in the historic 1931 building.
- Global Gallery: several floors on the evolution of life, dinosaur skeletons, a hall of mounted animals, and the history of science and technology.
- Hachiko: the preserved body of the famous loyal dog from Shibuya is on display, along with the Antarctic sled dog Jiro.
- Blue whale: a life-size model outside the entrance.
- Theater 36○: a dome theatre where films are projected all around you.
- Rooftop garden: a herb garden on the roof of the Global Gallery with views over Ueno.
Things to Do at National Museum of Nature and Science
- Start with the dinosaurs: the basement floors of the Global Gallery are the highlight for most kids.
- Watch a Theater 36○ show: short and included in admission.
- Find Hachiko: in the Japan Gallery.
- Check special exhibitions: major temporary exhibitions need a separate ticket.
National Museum of Nature and Science – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30), with occasional late openings
- Closed: Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) and the New Year period
- Admission: around ¥630 for adults and university students; free for under-18s and high school students
Special exhibitions are charged separately. Check the official museum website for the calendar and current prices.
How Long to Spend at National Museum of Nature and Science
Allow 2 to 3 hours for the highlights of both galleries, or most of a day if you are travelling with curious kids.
How to Get There
- Ueno Station (JR lines, Ginza and Hibiya subway lines): about 5 minutes on foot from the Park Exit.
- Keisei Ueno Station: about 10 minutes on foot, handy if you arrive by Skyliner from Narita Airport.
- Uguisudani Station (JR Yamanote Line): about 10 minutes on foot.
Arriving at Narita Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your Tokyo hotel.
Eateries Nearby National Museum of Nature and Science
- Museum restaurant: a casual restaurant inside the museum.
- Ueno Park cafés: several cafés around the park, including near the station and Shinobazu Pond.
- Ameyoko: the busy market street south of Ueno Station, full of cheap street food and izakaya.
- Ueno Station: restaurants and food shops in the ecute and atre complexes.
Other Attractions Nearby National Museum of Nature and Science
- Ueno Park: the museum sits inside the park.
- Tokyo National Museum: Japan’s largest collection of Japanese art, next door.
- National Museum of Western Art: in a Le Corbusier building listed as a World Heritage Site.
- Yanaka Ginza: an old-style shopping street, about 15 minutes’ walk north.
- Senso-ji Temple: a few stops on the Ginza Line.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Tokyo: Ueno is a good-value base with direct Skyliner trains to Narita.
- Get a Japan eSIM before you land, for maps and train route apps.
The National Museum of Nature and Science is Tokyo’s best all-round science museum, with dinosaurs, Japanese wildlife, Hachiko and a 360-degree theatre, all at a low price.
It is one of several museums in Ueno Park, and a short walk from the old streets of Yanaka Ginza.
