With kids
Osaka Science Museum
Osaka Science Museum sits on Nakanoshima island and fills four floors with hands-on science exhibits, from simple experiments for curious younger children to materials and physics displays for older ones. Exhibition entry is free for junior high students and younger.
Its planetarium has a 26.5 m dome, one of the largest in the world. Shows are narrated live in Japanese, so for non-Japanese speakers it works best as a relaxing look at the stars, and there are family-oriented sessions aimed at small children.
What to see and do
Four exhibition floors, with a science lab on 1F up to scientific inquiry on 4F.
A 26.5 m dome with live commentary; shows last about 45 minutes.
Planetarium sessions aimed mainly at small children and their families.
Children through junior high enter the exhibits free; the planetarium is a small extra fee.
Strollers and babies
In-building strollers can be borrowed (limited numbers). A nursing room is available on request to staff; restrooms on each floor have baby chairs, and there is a multi-function toilet with a changing bed on B1.
Good to know
- Buy planetarium tickets online in advance and arrive a little early, as latecomers cannot enter.
- The National Museum of Art, Osaka is next door, and Nakanoshima Park is a short walk for letting off steam.