There are several free museums in Tokyo, but most of them are for adults and in Japanese language only.
These facilities below are admission free, easy access for travel visitor, and children can have fun & learn.
I selected this 7 places which kids can feel most of installations are just like toys – no language barrier for non-Japanese.
Contents
Minato Science Museum
Can’t believe this facility is “no-entrance fee”! and open until 20:00 !
There are many games and learning inside – with English subtitles! 1F for science learning games, 2F for Disaster simulation, and also there is planetarium.
I think about 3 years old – school kids might enjoy here most.
Also, it’s near teamLab borderless. (about 10min walk away)
*An admission applies only for entry to the Planetarium. (Please check the timing of the program)
Minato Science Museum (Official Website)
Address : 3-6-9 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0001 (Link to Google map)Opening hours : 9:00 – 21:00
Close : Second Mondays of every month, New Year holidays
Galaxy Harajuku
Galaxy Harajuku is an interactive showroom run by Samsung.
It collaborates with teamLab’s digital art, offering an engaging experience for young children – for free!
Recommend to reserve the game if you can – so that you can reduce waiting time.
Galaxy Harajuku (Official Website)
Address: 1-8-9 Jingu-mae, SHibuya-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google map)Opening hours : 11:00 – 19:00
Close New Year Holidays
GAS Science Museum ( GAS-te-Nani )
Admission-free Science museum to learn about gas operated by Tokyo-Gus Company, located near Toyosu-fish market or Toyosu Shopping mall.
Renewed in 2021 – There are many touch-game-style exhibitions for kids. Lawn on roof top of building.
1-12years old kids might enjoy most. 1h – 2hour might be enough.
GAS science museum (Official Website)
Address: 6-1-1 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google map)Opening hours : 9:30 – 17:00
Close Monday
(or the next day if falling on a national holiday) and Year-end and New Year holidays
Tokyo Police Museum
Compact museum on Ginza main street, free to enter very casually.
You can learn about Japanese police and touch actual police car / motorcycle / helicopter on display.
*Uniforms are available in sizes 100/120/140cm for boys and girls.
1-6years old kids might enjoy most. Probably 30min – 1hour might be enough.
Police museum (Official Website)
Address: 3-5-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0031 (Link to Google map)Opening hours : 9:30 – 17:00
Close Monday
(or the next day if falling on a national holiday) and Year-end and New Year holidays
INTER MEDIA THEQUE Museum
If your kids are school kids : This is academic museum of Tokyo University.
Actually this free-museum is not so well known – always not crowded, even it is located right in front of Tokyo Station! (Marunouchi side)
*Taking photo is not permitted inside this museum
INTER MEDIA THEQUE Museum (Official website)
*it’s inside KITTE Maruouchi building.Address : KITTE 2F&3F, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 18:00 (Open until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays)
Closed Monday
(or the next day if falling on a national holiday) and Year-end and New Year holidays
Tokyo Water Science Museum
Although need to walk a bit from nearest station, (10-15min walk ) nice facility to learn about water.
3-12years old kids might enjoy most. 1h – 2hour might be enough.
Tokyo Water Science Museum (Official Website)
Address: 3-1-8, Ariake, Koto, Tokyo 135-0063 (Link to Google map)Opening hours : 9:30 – 17:00
Close Monday
(or the next day if falling on a national holiday) and Year-end and New Year holidays
SONA Area Tokyo (The Disaster Prevention Experience-Learning Facility)
An important disaster education facility that raises disaster awareness among local residents and tourists.
Everyone can experience disaster response simulations, and training to prepare for real-life emergencies.
6 -12years old kids might enjoy. About 1h-1.5h might be good.
※This facility is located within the large green park. (Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park)
SONA Area Tokyo (The Disaster Prevention Experience-Learning Facility) (Official Website)
Address : 3 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0063 (Link to Google map)Opening hours : 9:30 – 17:00
Close Monday
(or the next day if falling on a national holiday) and Year-end and New Year holidays
Others
Tokyo Fire Museum
Free-admission, you can enter directly from “Yotsuya-sanchome” subway station exit “no.2”.
So doesn’t need to be wet when it’s raining outside.
Mainly 2 – 6 years old kids seems having fun most. Probably 1-2hours is enough.
* I can recommend this place in winter, but not hot day.
The air-condition in the summer is not so working well here, therefore it’s uncomfortable in the hot&humid day …
Fire Museum (Official Website)
Address: 3-10 Yotsuya, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
1min from “Yotsuya-sanchome” subway station (Marunouchi-Line)
*Not “Yotsuya” station, “Yotsuya-sanchome” station!! Even Japanese is confused.Opening hours : 9:30-17:00
Close Monday
(or the next day if falling on a national holiday) and Year-end and New Year holidays
*Changes depending on the season and/or time period
Every museum has nursing room or diaper changing board.
I hope this info help you for bad-wether day!
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