You might not think a natural history museum is a must-see when there are so many only-in-Japan things to do, but you’ll thank me for telling you about the All Things Japanese wing at the National Museum of Nature & Science! From mighty indigenous bugs, to ancient people mannequins with a sense of humor, to the actual stuffed Hachiko, it’s a worthy way to spend an afternoon (especially if it’s hot or rainy outside!)
The National Museum of Nature and Science is split between the Global Gallery and the Japan Gallery, but it’s the Japanese building that’s a delightfully only-in-Japan view of the natural world.
Front and center are the truly excellent life-size dioramas depicting Japanese of yore. The thing I love about these is that they chose moments in the lives of ancient people and really brought them to life. Although they’re obviously using past-sell-date technology and wearing clothing that’s so last epoch, their expressions and reactions are exactly like people today.
You can practically hear this mom prodding Junior to pay attention to his pontificating old teacher instead of pestering her to let him go play video games
The evolution and breeding of roosters and other living things that are seen as being especially “Japanese” are explored in depth…
including rice, chrysanthemums, goldfish and…dogs. The five kinds of extremely proud-looking Japanese woofers are all represented, including the ACTUAL stuffed Hachiko (she’s the white one) whose statue is everyone’s favorite meeting place outside Shibuya Station
Kabutomushi (those inexplicably popular pets) are also well-represented in all their niche-occupying Darwinian glory
And a room of indigenous species features (among others) the world’s scariest looking rabbit
The Global Gallery focuses mostly on biodiversity and evolution, and the exhibits are quite ingenious. For example, the obligatory stuffed animals in the hall of mammals is a giant roundabout of beady animal goodness
National Museum of Nature and Science
Open: Every day, except closed Mondays
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00, open late on Fridays until 20:00
Admission: Adults: ¥620, Children (up through high school): Free
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And here are the other places I take my friends when they come to town
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 