Ibaraki Nature Museum

Carly Bode, International Affairs Division

Experience nature as never before—the Ibaraki Nature Museum

Ibaraki Nature Museum logo

While not widely known, Ibaraki is home to one of the country's top nature museums. It has a number of fascinating displays which makes it worth a full day of anyone's time.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the museum is the "hands-on" attitude to learning. This interactive approach pulls the visitor into the world of science. While not challenging for adults, it is still appealing and enjoyable for everyone. One can for example, actually look at the world through the eyes of an insect, test the limits of what is audible to the human ears, or lift an actual meteorite.

There is no lack of things to see either, with a plethora of fossils, rocks, gems, and other things expected in a nature museum. One of the better displays is a large moving display of life in the time of the dinosaurs. Huge lifelike robot dinosaurs roar, bare their fangs, and swing their mighty tails at intruders to protect their young, all in a reconstruction of their natural habitat.

The Museum from above
Ibaraki Nature Museum site from above

There is also a huge 16 hectare outdoor premise dubbed the "Museum Park." The idea was to construct a nature museum in a natural surrounding. This makes going to the park somewhat inconvenient but well worth the effort. The park is beautiful and full of things for children to do. The Sugo Marsh on the premises is a protected bird sanctuary and winter destination for migrating white swans from Siberia. Bird watching can be done in comfort year round from a bridge stretching over the marsh.

The Ibaraki Nature Museum is a tribute to science and a modern treasure of Ibaraki Prefecture.

How to get there

It's a 20 minute drive from the Yawara Interchange of the Jōban Expressway. To get there by public transport, get off at JR Mitsukaidō station on the Jōsō Line. Take a bus bound for Iwai Shako or Iwai Nishikō and get off at Heta Sansaro. Then take a bus bound for Noda Station or Atago Station. Get off at Shizen Hakubutsukan and it is a 10 minute walk from there.

Entry fees

  • Prices vary according to special exhibitions
  • Admission is free for senior citizens (over 65)
  • On the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, students aged 18 and under are admitted free
  • Handicapped people and those accompanying them are admitted free (must show ID)
  • Admission is free on these days (Science Days): March 21st, April 29th, June 5th, and November 13th

Address

700 Ozaki, Bandō-shi (Access Map)(external link)
Telephone 0297-38-2000
http://www.nat.pref.ibaraki.jp/index.html(external link)