How long do you need at the National Museum of Nature and Science?

Plan for about 2 to 3 hours to see both the Japan Gallery and Global Gallery at a comfortable pace, more if a special exhibition is also running or with young children exploring hands-on areas.

Is the National Museum of Nature and Science good for children?

Yes, it's one of the strongest family museums in Ueno Park, with hands-on natural history and science exhibits, an outdoor rocket and whale model, and broad free admission for children.

Is it different from Tokyo National Museum?

Yes, they are two separate museums. The National Museum of Nature and Science covers natural history and science (biology, geology, space, Japan's natural environment). Tokyo National Museum, a short walk away, covers Japanese art, antiquities, and archaeology. Both sit inside Ueno Park.

Are special exhibitions included in general admission?

No. Special exhibitions require a separate ticket from the ¥630 general admission price; free-admission categories for permanent exhibitions do not automatically extend to special exhibitions.

What are the opening hours?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Friday and Saturday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Closed Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) and Dec 28-Jan 1.

How much does admission cost?

General and university-student admission is ¥630. High school students, junior high age and under, and visitors 65 and older are free.

What is the nearest station?

Ueno Station, Park Exit, on the JR Yamanote Line and Tokyo Metro Ginza/Hibiya Lines, under a 5 minute walk into Ueno Park.

Can you take photos inside?

Flash photography is prohibited. General, non-flash photography for personal use is otherwise typically permitted in most areas.

Is it worth visiting if I'm not a science person?

Yes, especially for families or anyone curious about Japan's natural environment; the Japan Gallery in particular ties the science content directly to Japanese geography and history rather than presenting generic science content.

Kahaku is the common Japanese nickname for the National Museum of Nature and Science, short for Kagaku Hakubutsukan ("science museum"). You'll see it used interchangeably with the museum's full English name.

National Museum of Nature and Science

By Andrew Liyan · Last updated: August 25, 2026 · Facts verified: August 25, 2026

Quick Answer

Hours

Tue-Thu & Sun 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Fri-Sat 9:00 AM-8:00 PM (closed Mondays)

Admission

¥630 general/university; free for HS students, under, and 65+

Nearest Station

Ueno Station, Park Exit (under 5 minutes walk)

Best Time

Weekday mornings for smaller crowds

Visit Duration

2-3 hours

National Museum of Nature and Science's Neo-Renaissance main building in Ueno Park, Taito, Tokyo, Japan

Area: Ueno / Taito
Best For: Families, Science, Culture
Nearby: Ueno Zoo · Tokyo National Museum

Plan Your Tokyo Visit

Visiting National Museum of Nature and Science

The National Museum of Nature and Science, commonly nicknamed Kahaku, is Tokyo's principal natural history and science museum, standing in the northeast corner of Ueno Park. It is a genuinely different institution from Tokyo National Museum a short walk away, a distinction worth stating clearly since the two names are frequently confused.

Founded in 1877, it is one of Japan's oldest museums, renamed the National Museum of Nature and Science in 2007 after operating for decades under earlier names including the Tokyo Science Museum. The main building, completed in September 1931 during reconstruction after the Great Kanto Earthquake, is built in a Neo-Renaissance style famously shaped like an airplane when viewed from above.

The museum is organized around two main permanent galleries. The Japan Gallery (Nihonkan) explores the environment of the Japanese islands and the relationship between people and nature, split across a Japan Pavilion and an Earth Pavilion. The Global Gallery (Chikyukan) covers the broader history of life on Earth, biodiversity, and evolution across three floors above ground and three below.

An outdoor exhibit area adds a rocket and a life-size whale model to the mix, a popular photo stop for families before or after the indoor galleries.

For a traveler trying to decide between Ueno Park's two major museums with limited time, the distinction is straightforward: Tokyo National Museum is Japan's definitive art and antiquities museum, while the National Museum of Nature and Science is the natural-history and science counterpart, stronger for families with children and anyone with a science interest.

Admission is inexpensive relative to many Tokyo attractions, and the museum offers broad free-admission categories, including for high school students and visitors 65 and older, though special exhibitions are ticketed separately from general admission and are not automatically included.

Combined with its Ueno Park location alongside Ueno Zoo and Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science works well as one stop on a full day of Ueno Park museum-hopping, or as a standalone half-day visit focused specifically on natural history and science.

Things to Do at National Museum of Nature and Science

Explore the Japan Gallery (Nihonkan)
The Japan Gallery covers the environment of the Japanese islands and the relationship between people and nature across a Japan Pavilion and an Earth Pavilion, grounding the museum's science content specifically in Japan's own natural and human history.
Explore the Global Gallery (Chikyukan)
The Global Gallery covers the broader history of life on Earth, biodiversity, and evolution across three floors above ground and three below, the museum's largest single exhibition space.
See the Outdoor Rocket and Whale Model
An outdoor exhibit area features a rocket and a life-size whale model, a quick, free-to-view photo stop for families moving between the indoor galleries.
Distinguish It From Tokyo National Museum
Travelers with limited time in Ueno Park should know this museum is the natural-history and science counterpart to the art-focused Tokyo National Museum next door, not a duplicate or a smaller version of it. See the Tokyo National Museum guide for the art/antiquities side of the same Ueno Park museum cluster.

How to Get to National Museum of Nature and Science

The National Museum of Nature and Science sits inside Ueno Park in Taito-ku, one of Tokyo's best-connected museum districts, reachable directly from Ueno Station's Park Exit.

Ueno Station is served by the JR Yamanote Line and several Tokyo Metro lines, making it an easy stop from almost anywhere in central Tokyo.

From Tokyo Station
Traveling from Tokyo Station to Ueno Station generally takes around 10 minutes on the JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku Line, then under 5 minutes on foot from the Park Exit.
From Shinjuku
From Shinjuku, the journey to Ueno Station generally takes around 25 to 30 minutes on the JR Yamanote Line.
From Asakusa
Traveling from Asakusa to Ueno Station generally takes around 10 to 15 minutes via the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, with an easy walk into Ueno Park from the Park Exit side.
Closest Station
Ueno Station, Park Exit, is closest, under a 5 minute walk into Ueno Park to the museum entrance. The Tokyo Metro Ginza and Hibiya Lines also stop at Ueno Station.
Important Visitor Tips Before Arriving
The museum is closed on Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) and Dec 28-Jan 1; confirm the calendar before visiting.
Coin lockers are available on B1 of the Japan Gallery.
Flash photography is prohibited; general photography is otherwise typically permitted for personal use.

For IC cards, tickets, and full transit basics for Tokyo, see the complete transportation guide.

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Map

Open National Museum of Nature and Science in Google Maps

Best Time to Visit National Museum of Nature and Science

Weekday mornings for smaller crowds; Friday/Saturday's extended 8:00 PM closing for a quieter late visit.

Entry Fee & Hours

🎟️

Admission

¥630 general/university student; complimentary admission for high school students, junior high and under, and age 65+

⏰

Hours

Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Friday-Saturday 9:00 AM-8:00 PM (closed Mondays and Dec 28-Jan 1)

General Admission (Permanent Exhibitions)

General Admission (Permanent Exhibitions) admission prices in JPY and approximate USD
Category	Price (JPY)	Approx. (USD)
General / University Student	¥630	~$4
High School Student	Free	Free
Junior High and Under	Free	Free
Age 65+	Free	Free

Group rate (20+ visitors): ¥510 general/university student. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately from general admission. USD amounts are approximate and change with the exchange rate.

💡Good to Know

•Free general admission also applies on May 18 (International Museum Day) and November 3 (Culture Day), for permanent exhibitions only.
•Coin lockers are available on B1 of the Japan Gallery.
•Flash photography is prohibited.
•A dedicated barrier-free/accessibility information page is maintained on the official museum site.