Heavenly bodies. The best science museum in Japan?

Whilst growing up I always had a fascination with all things science I was as a child, I spent my free time experimenting with a chemistry set. I would grow crystals from those inexpensive kits sold on Amazon and sometimes accidentally spill some in the cupboard, hiding it from my parents. Eventually, they discovered a cluster of crystals had taken over the cupboard, making it their home. I begged for a telescope to observe the night sky, hoping to spot planets among the sparkling dots above me. I became excited about the concept of nuclear fusion, took trips to Charles Darwin's and Issac Newton’s house, and pleaded with my parents for books that were far beyond my reading level.

As I grew up, I accumulated an impressive amount of knowledge and was voted a star student by the science department. I could recite 72 elements from the periodic table. In short, I love science, even though it often involves mathematics, my weakest subject. When I moved to Japan, I was thrilled to explore what science museums had to offer and the attractions I would get to experience.

To date, I have visited three science museums and four different planetariums in Japan. Today’s entry focuses on the best science museum experience I have had so far. This memorable experience took place at the Saga Prefectural Space and Science Museum, located in Takeo. Although the museum is slightly out of the way, it can be reached by car and limited bus service, so it’s important to plan your trip carefully.

The remote location of the museum offers several advantages. One notable benefit is the clear skies, free from light pollution, which provide excellent stargazing opportunities. Additionally, the serene setting is beautiful, overlooking a lake and rolling mountains. There are also nearby onsens and upscale hotels that make for an ideal escape from the stresses of everyday life.

The admission fee to visit the museum is very reasonable. I recommend setting aside at least four hours to fully explore the exhibits. You can also book planetarium experiences at the front desk.

If you wish to participate in the stargazing events, be sure to check the museum's website, as it is updated daily due to the unpredictable weather. The event may be canceled if there is cloud cover or dangerous weather conditions. Keep this in mind to avoid disappointment when planning to stargaze.

The first thing that caught my attention was the gift shop; it was amazing! It reminded me of the London Science Museum, back when they were more traditional and hadn't yet transitioned to a more interactive approach by removing many interesting items. This shop had everything you could ever need, and I ended up spending nearly an hour overwhelmed by the incredible selection.

From T-shirts with the slogan "No Cats, No Life," cleverly spelled out using the periodic table of elements, to "Nyasa," a playful twist on the Japanese word for meow and NASA, there were so many unique items. They also had space food, experiment kits, "dig your own gemstone" kits, dinosaur merchandise, stargazing umbrellas, and fridge magnets featuring every element of the periodic table!

I highly recommend spelling your name out in magnets, even if it gets pricier for those with longer names. This museum shop had everything. Up until now, I have been disappointed with the other museums and their shops, but this one will not disappoint. You will come away with at least one item of interest!

The museum is spread across three floors, and each level features interactive activities that are enjoyable for all ages. One highlight is the opportunity to cycle on a rope in the air, allowing you to experience what it’s like to cycle in space. Although it might give you a mild panic attack when you realize how wobbly it is, especially with the drop involved but fear not you are strapped in for safety. This activity is for the more adventurous.

You can also engage with bubble machines to immerse yourself in bubbles, giving you a taste of what it’s like to be a viral star, reminiscent of those popular videos of cats in bubbles but on a larger scale. Another exciting attraction is the space jump, where you can jump on different planets and enjoy the sensation of zero gravity.

Additionally, there is the "Sub Zero Zone," where you can experience freezing temperatures, an invigorating escape from the sweltering summer heat in Saga. Other attractions include an earthquake simulator, various mirror and sound experiences, and a speed challenge where you can throw balls as fast as possible to measure your speed.

The interactive experiences are too numerous to list fully, but one great advantage of visiting Saga, one of Japan’s most underrated prefectures, is that even on weekends, you can enjoy most of these activities with minimal wait times.

Alongside interactive exhibitions there are numerous traditional exhibits  which will explain the history of saga and fossils found in the area. There is also an exhibit showing the residents of the waterways in saga. Fish and turtles can be observed and the exhibit benefits from lots of natural light. The decoration in this section is great and immersive. There is a diorama of a field and forest where you can guess which bird is singing. The third floor is where the planetarium can be found along side observatory and some exhibits showing information about the plants and space.

I ran out of time to see everything at the museum since I only allocated a few hours for my visit and ended up spending quite a bit of time in the gift shop. However, I did manage to catch a show at the planetarium, which featured a presentation of the night skies from Saga. The show was beautiful, but it was entirely in Japanese. On the topic of language, I was pleasantly surprised to find a good amount of English throughout the museum, and the translations were of a high quality. This was unexpected, as Saga is a small prefecture that is often overlooked by tourists.

In contrast, I visited a museum in Nagoya, a larger city frequented by many tourists, and the lack of English there was quite noticeable. I was also happy to see that many of the exhibits were authentic rather than just replicas. During my visit to the Dinosaur Museum in Nagasaki, I was disappointed to find that every exhibit was a replica, with not a single real dinosaur bone in the entire museum. Saga's museum strikes a good balance between authentic items and replicas.

Overall, I found this museum amazing, and despite its less-than-ideal location, I would visit again! They often hold temporary exhibits, and I would be interested in seeing more when they change. I highly recommend a day trip to this museum on your way to Nagasaki or Fukuoka, as it is conveniently located on the Kyushu Limited Express train line, making it easily accessible.