The best museums to do with children in Japan 子どもと巡るベストな博物館
Learn while having fun
To stop "dragging" your children around museums, here is our selection of places that will delight young and old, with links to find out more.
In Tokyo
The capital has thought of children who will be able to learn while having fun in many of its museums.
- The Edo-Tokyo Museum
You can cross a life-size bridge, admire the buildings of old Tokyo (called Edo until 1868) or see scenes of life at that time. It is also possible to participate as a family in various activities.
- Miraikan: the science and innovation museum
From the age of 4, your toddlers will be able to experiment and participate in all kinds of activities in a space specially designed for them, the Kids zone . For those with babies, the Baby's cafe is recommended. You will find two rooms to rest with the family and everything to take care of baby. Located in Odaiba, an artificial island, paradise for children.
- The Maritime Science Museum (Funeno-Kagakukan)
Located in Tokyo Bay, the Maritime Science Museum is dedicated to the sea and navigation . Here too, your children will be able to have fun thanks to the many interactive activities on offer. You can even pilot remote-controlled boats.
- Tokyo Toy Museum
With 70,000 toys and games from over 100 countries , it's the perfect place to visit on a rainy day! Here, we visit but we also play thanks to a wide variety of interactive games or even workshops for making games.
- The Ghibli Museum
Fans of the great master of animation Hayao Miyasaki will be greeted there by Totoro himself . The museum will transport the whole family to the magical world of Studio Ghibli. The little ones will be happy to board the "cat bus" straight out of "My Neighbor Totoro".
In Hakone
- Chokoku no mori: Hakone's open-air museum
Your little ones can run across the lawns dotted with sculptures, climb to the top of the spiral staircase of the multicolored tower or even have a blast in the play areas reserved for them. A place that delights young and old with a breath of fresh air as a bonus!
In Nagoya
- Nagoya Science Museum
It is the largest museum of its kind in Japan . It covers the fields of science and technology, life sciences and astronomy. Young and old will be fascinated by the spectacle of its giant planetarium.
IN KYOTO
If your little ones or teenagers start to growl and exclaim in front of the umpteenth temple "Oh no! Another temple!", promise them a surprise with:
- The International Manga Museum
The only museum in the world entirely devoted to the art of manga . Even without being a fan of this popular art, one can appreciate this museum for the richness of its collections, its presentation of the history of manga but also its workshops and its various activities on offer.
- The Kyoto Railway Museum
With 31,000 m² of exhibition space, it is the largest railway museum in Japan. Young and old can have fun playing the driver (and even donning official uniforms) thanks to driving simulators . You can also take short steam train trips here.
In Hiroshima
- The children's museum
This last museum offers many fun and instructive interactive activities. There is also a planetarium there.