Miraikan

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, known simply as the Miraikan, is a special museum in Japan created by the country's Science and Technology Agency. It is often called the "Future Museum" because it shows visitors exciting ideas about science and technology that might change the world.

The Miraikan opened its doors in 2001. It is located in a special building in the Odaiba District of Tokyo. From downtown Tokyo, people can get there using the Yurikamome, a driverless train that runs automatically, and the trip takes about 20 minutes. This museum helps everyone, especially children, learn about amazing new discoveries and inventions.

Permanent Exhibition “Explore the frontiers”

The “Explore the frontiers” zone helps visitors learn about how the world, Earth, and all life were created, as well as the Solar System and the universe. It looks back over the universe’s long history spanning 13.8 billion years. Visitors can think about how humans began and how people live and interact with the world around them. By using a scientific viewpoint, people can consider what path we should follow toward the future.

Permanent Exhibition “Create your future”

The “Create your future” zone shows ideas about what the world could look like and how we might live in the future. It asks questions like, "What science and technology do we need to help us live well with more than eight billion people?" Visitors can see how science and technology might help us build a better world.

Previously, visitors could watch demonstrations by the humanoid robot ASIMO, but these stopped on March 31st, 2022.

Symbol Exhibit “Geo-Cosmos”

The Geo-Cosmos is the main display at the Miraikan. It shows a realistic view of Earth shining in space, using over 10 million pixels. The exhibit uses the latest LED panels to create a fresh and even more realistic look. These special panels give richer and deeper colors and lighting, making our planet look amazing.

Special Exhibitions

Each year, the Miraikan hosts two to three special exhibitions that blend science and art. These exhibitions cover many interesting topics, such as "The NINJA - who were they?" and "Detective Conan: Scientific Investigation." In 2012, one exhibition called "The Story of the End of the World: 73 Questions We Must Answer" discussed the Tohoku earthquake and what happened after it.