Things to do in Japan, Japan: The Best Museums

July 6, 2021 Esmeralda Fenner

Coordinates: 35°N 136°E / 35°N 136°E / 35; 136
Restaurants in Japan

1. Historical Village of Hokkaido (Kaitaku-no Mura)

50-1 Atsubetsucho Konopporo, Atsubetsu-Ku, Sapporo 004-0006 Hokkaido +81 11-898-2692 [email protected] http://www.kaitaku.or.jp/
Excellent
43%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 554 reviews

Historical Village of Hokkaido (Kaitaku-no Mura)

Nearly every kind of private and public building, from farmhouse to sleigh factory, is on display in this fascinating open-air museum.

Reviewed By fivewaves6711 - Singapore, Singapore

Visited this place and we were just about the only visitors at the time we went and the colours of the leaves were beautiful. We understand that this is a historical place, but we were delighted by the colours and the tranquility. Nice place to spend some quiet time to appreciate its beauty during autumn.

2. Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

4-1-35 Noritakeshinmachi, Nishi-Ku, Nagoya 451-0051 Aichi Prefecture +81 52-551-6115 [email protected] http://www.tcmit.org
Excellent
62%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,517 reviews

Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

Reviewed By PeterthePauper - Ulsan, South Korea

Arriving in Nagoya mid-morning by train from Matsumoto, I thought I would abandon my luggage in a locker at Nagoya Station and head to the Toyota Museum before checking-in to my hotel for a 2-night stay. A short hop (1-stop) on a local Meitetsu train to the nearby Sako Station and a few minutes walk down the street brings you to the main entrance. Just entering the attraction, it immediately earned 5-stars for me when I discovered that the normal Y500 entrance fee is waived for Seniors (over 65's) like myself. Audio guides are available if required for Y200, but for me the informative leaflet in English was sufficient to find my way around. I was blissfully unaware of the Textile Machinery Pavilion and Toyota's history of spinning and weaving prior to visiting and found this part of the exhibit surprisingly interesting. Like most people, I had been drawn to the Museum by the "Cars" and the Automotive Pavilion contained a reasonable cross-section of models across the decades since Toyota's first passenger car (Model AA) was produced in 1936. As well as the cars, I particularly enjoyed the Production Line Reconstructions associated with the Model AA and the exhibit where robotic arms assemble a modern car chassis (.... press the button, stand back and video the balletic performance!). Before you leave, make sure you take in a performance of a Toyota robot playing the violin in the South Lobby (see leaflet for times). It's not only the "Cars" that are the "Stars"!

3. Hida Minzoka Mura Folk Village (Hida no Sato)

1-590 Kamiokamotomachi, Takayama 506-0055 Gifu Prefecture +81 577-33-4711 [email protected] http://www.hidanosato-tpo.jp/top.html
Excellent
50%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,522 reviews

Hida Minzoka Mura Folk Village (Hida no Sato)

Authentic homes moved from a nearby valley and preserved intact make this attraction a very special "open air museum."

Reviewed By Shodby - Mackay, Australia

Coming from Australia snow is a real treat. When we went to the Folk Village on New Years Day it was thick with powdery snow. We could still walk around as the sky was clear and blue. The water wheel was iced over and the thatched roofs had a foot of white powder. I was glad it was open however some of the areas such as the 500 year old hilltop castle were closed due to safety reasons.

4. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

1-2 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0811 Hiroshima Prefecture +81 82-241-4004 [email protected] http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/
Excellent
72%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6,977 reviews

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

This park commemorates the explosion of the first atomic bomb, and houses the Peace Memorial Museum and monuments related to the horrific event.

Reviewed By Dan06101973 - Toowoomba, Australia

This is perhaps one of the most moving experiences we had during our Japanese holiday. The Atomic Dome, Peace Park and Museum are all captivating, with many deeply personal stories and reflections. There is an audiovisual display that gives a depiction of the bomb dropping which depicts Hiroshima both before and after the event which is extremely thought-provoking and intense. If you travel to Japan you must visit this site - you will not be disappointed.

5. Miho Museum

300 Shigarakicho Tashiro Momotani, Koka 529-1814 Shiga Prefecture +81 748-82-3411 [email protected] http://www.miho.or.jp/
Excellent
70%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 340 reviews

Miho Museum

Reviewed By foodiekatkat - Hong Kong, China

Opened in 1997 amid the abundant natural beauty of the mountains of Shigaraki, Shiga prefecture. The museum was designed by architect I.M. Pei, who is renowned for works such as the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris. Is a truly amazing museum especially their collection, I do really like standing Buddha!!

6. The Hakone Open-Air Museum

1121 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0493 Kanagawa Prefecture +81 460-82-1161 http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/
Excellent
65%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,729 reviews

The Hakone Open-Air Museum

Art blends with nature at this huge outdoor sculpture park, where works by both Japanese and Western artists are framed by trees, grass and mountains.

Reviewed By rodrigolaniado - Shanghai, China

It was truly amazing It was my first open air museum and won’t be the last The sculptures are incredible and go perfectly with the impecable gardens Also you have plenty Picasso art which gives a good contrast with the outside exposures

7. Ohara Museum of Art

1-1-15 Chuo, Kurashiki 710-8575 Okayama Prefecture +81 86-422-0005 http://www.ohara.or.jp/201001/jp/index.html
Excellent
58%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 706 reviews

Ohara Museum of Art

Reviewed By ratdog2063 - Sydney, Australia

the famed paitings by el greco, renoir, lautrec, etc are here. there are not many of each, but the crown jewels are there. the japanese garden, and the storage buildings are worth a visit too

8. Ghibli Museum Mitaka

1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka 181-0013 Tokyo Prefecture +81 570-055-777 [email protected] http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/
Excellent
58%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,898 reviews

Ghibli Museum Mitaka

The brainchild of award-winning Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki, this museum includes a theater showing film excerpts, a whimsical children's play zone, a rooftop garden, and exhibits related to his movies, including Spirited Away.

Reviewed By Janis857

Amazing museum for Ghibli fans. Not overwhelming - works its way into your heart, just like their productions. Relies on triggering your recall of things Ghibli that you love. I also enjoyed their presentation of the rooms and desks where the drawings were created, and the equipment used to create the moving animation. Must get tickets in advance, and line up early - aim for 10AM opening time tickets, and get in line by 9:30.. Easy 17 minute train ride on JR Chuo Line Rapid to Mitaka from Shinjuku station in Tokyo and then walk thru park to the museum -- or ride the quick, local Community Bus , stop 9 at south exit of JR Mitaka station. There is real attention to making exhibits accessible to small children. The cheerful cafe has a menu with hotdog type food - aimed for kids. After visit, recommend eating lunch at a great French restaurant - Fuyotei- located at edge of park.

9. Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

7-8 Hirano-machi, Nagasaki Nagasaki Prefecture +81 95-844-1231 http://nagasakipeace.jp/japanese/abm.html
Excellent
61%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,992 reviews

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Jarring, horrific reminders of the devastation caused by the August 9, 1945 bombing of Nagasaki fill this historic and educational museum, which traces events preceding the bombing, the resulting destruction and the city’s restoration.

Reviewed By Rumples - Tucson, United States

A friend and I visited this moving museum on a weekday morning in early October. We had come to see how Nagasaki portrayed the effects of the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bomb drop on the city. The curators have chosen to tell a story, presenting Nagasaki before the bomb fell; immediately after the explosion; and today. They weave explanations of historical details within the story and show what happened through photos, videos, artifacts and much more. The conclusion focuses on the need for peace and the end of nuclear weapons, made abundantly clear by the bomb's destruction of the city and the killing of at least 74,000 people. Those, who survived, would often have to endure physical ailments from the radiation and psychological trauma. As soon as I entered the exhibition hall, I felt uneasy, looking at a giant black-and- white photo of Nagasaki as it appeared before the bomb fell. That's because I knew what would be ahead for the thriving city. A recovered wall clock frozen at 11:02 a.m. soon appeared, marking the exact time that the horrors began. Displays feature English descriptions and include photos of the atomic wasteland that Nagasaki became, along with stories of that fateful day from survivors, including heroic rescue work. Artifacts damaged from the flash of heat range from a 14-year-old girl's lunch box with rice charred from the fire to six green glass bottles melted at the top and stuck together, which were found in a store's ruins. A helmet with the remains of a skull inside is one of the more grisly items. I found information on the bomb itself to be especially interesting. A life-size model of the one used on Nagasaki is displayed and called "Fat Man," because of its appearance. A video shows the military loading Fat Man and transporting it to the plane for the mission. There is also a photo taken from the plane that shows the mushroom cloud rising into the sky after the blast. We went through the relatively small museum in about 1 hour. It cost 200 Y (about $1.89 U.S.) to enter. A corridor leads from the museum to the adjacent Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. There is no fee to enter the Memorial Hall. Both are located near ground zero for the blast and the Nagasaki Peace Park. To reach the museum, we took the blue line to the Matsuyamamachi tram stop and then walked for about 4 minutes.

10. Hamamatsu Air Park

Nishiyamacho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu 432-8551 Shizuoka Prefecture +81 53-472-1121 http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/airpark/
Excellent
48%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 515 reviews

Hamamatsu Air Park

Reviewed By Tokugawa_Ieyasu - Fujieda, Japan

This facility is widely open for many people in free of charge. Both of kids and adults should have great times there. I bet those who are interested in aircraft, defensing activities can enjoy a lot. The exhibitions are great to see. Weapons such as missiles are displayed together with reasonable explanations. You can get into the cockpits of exhibited airplanes which had flied in the air before. This may bring you the memorial photos. Souvenir store offers great variety of air force goods, towels, shirts and so forth.

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