Things to do in Japan, Japan: The Best Specialty Museums

February 11, 2022 Osvaldo Hartline

Coordinates: 35°N 136°E / 35°N 136°E / 35; 136
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1. 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"!

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. National Museum of Ethnology

10-1 Senribanpakukoen, Suita 565-0826 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6876-2151 http://www.minpaku.ac.jp/
Excellent
59%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 176 reviews

National Museum of Ethnology

Reviewed By Buckster21 - London, United Kingdom

In the centre of the Expo Park, and some way out of the city, this museum is definitely worth a visit. The second floor is a huge set of rooms that are informative (and usually in English too) and very well laid out. The place is an academic centre too, which probably explains the outstanding quality of the exhibits. You will learn about other cultures, not just in Asia, and see samples of their art, religion and dress. As an example of how to explain changes in societies, this place is hard to beat.

5. Yamato Museum

5-20 Takaramachi, Kure 737-0029 Hiroshima Prefecture +81 823-25-3017 http://yamato-museum.com/
Excellent
45%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 846 reviews

Yamato Museum

Reviewed By dave_hempenstall1

Awesome museum, do scan the QR code on entering to get the English video apps for the museum, makes a big difference, WiFi in museum is free. The exhibits are well worth the trip from Hiroshima(free with JR pass), the models of ships are cool and drop over to the JSDF museum opposite for a free lookie loo in a submarine.

6. Toyota Automobile Museum

41-100 Yokomichi, Nagakute 480-1118 Aichi Prefecture +81 561-63-5151 http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/
Excellent
46%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 338 reviews

Toyota Automobile Museum

Reviewed By instajan66 - Bornem, Belgium

It's not just Toyota, it's about cars... history and cars. The release of a certain car set in the time era. Good lay-out, cars all look amazing, as new. You can also see nice cars on the parking lot, sometimes Toyota-fans gather with their oldtimers.

7. Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

51-11 Murokocho Terao, Katsuyama 911-8601 Fukui Prefecture +81 779-88-0001 http://www.dinosaur.pref.fukui.jp/
Excellent
63%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 701 reviews

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

Reviewed By KlapauciusJapan

Revisited after about 6 months since the last time. Have been here many times but always seem to find something I’ve missed before or something new added, and enjoy seeing the same exhibits again. Also, the special exhibition changes every few months. Well worth revisiting if you haven’t been for a while.

8. JMSDF Kure Museum

5-32 Takaramachi, Kure 737-0029 Hiroshima Prefecture +81 823-21-6111 http://www.jmsdf-kure-museum.go.jp/
Excellent
51%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 560 reviews

JMSDF Kure Museum

9. Motorcar Museum of Japan

40 Futatsunashimachi, Komatsu 923-0345 Ishikawa Prefecture +81 761-43-4343 http://mmj-car.com
Excellent
54%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 119 reviews

Motorcar Museum of Japan

The classic car called various national valuable wonderful car is exhibited. The car museum where about 500 classic cars of the Japanese maximum level were exhibited.

10. Oya History Museum

909 Oyamachi, Utsunomiya 321-0345 Tochigi Prefecture +81 28-652-1232 http://www.oya909.co.jp/
Excellent
55%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 587 reviews

Oya History Museum

Reviewed By Shigeabbott - Abbottstown, United States

We had no idea how jaw dropping this place was! You are able to talk through a part of a stone mine. It makes you feel you are on another planet or something. Don’t forget to take a sweater or light jacket because it’s chilly all year around. I didn’t see any handicap accommodations and you will have to climb down and up many steps-just like when you visit a good size caves or caverns. Very limited information in English, which didn’t make much sense. But you can get what they’re trying to tell you. There is a small information area but again all in Japanese. My non-Japanese speaking teens were able to get main information by reading English signs posted here and there. They were very amused by huge tour buses driving through small areas between carved boulders in the mountain.

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