National Museum of Nature and Science

The National Museum of Nature and Science, known as Kahaku, stands as Japan’s foremost natural history institution. Founded in 1877 and located in Ueno Park, the museum is split into two massive exhibition buildings: the Japan Gallery, which traces the natural and scientific history of the Japanese archipelago, and the Global Gallery, which covers the broader story of life on Earth and the universe. With over five million specimens and artefacts in its research collection, Kahaku functions as both a public museum and a serious scientific research institution. Visitors can marvel at dinosaur skeletons, explore meteorite and mineral collections, and examine the preserved specimens of Japanese flora and fauna. The museum holds Hachiko, the famous Akita dog, as a mounted exhibit. Interactive displays make the museum accessible and engaging for all ages, while special exhibitions regularly draw queues around the block. The museum’s planetarium and IMAX-style theatre offer additional programming for science enthusiasts. Guided tours and educational workshops are available in Japanese, with English audio guides and multilingual materials also on offer. The surrounding Ueno Park area provides the perfect complement, with other major museums nearby making Kahaku an ideal anchor for a full day of cultural exploration in one of Tokyo’s most celebrated districts.