Kawasaki’s Toshiba Science Museum was launched, in part, to combat waning interest in the natural sciences among children.  It does a pretty good job of this, overall, not only through its exhibits but also through various events and educational outreach and awards programs for youth.  As a corporate museum, though, there’s a certain unavoidable focus on the accomplishments of the Toshiba Corporation.   Expect to learn a great deal about leading-edge advancements in refrigerators, washing machines, televisions and other technologies the company is involved in.  Fortunately, the museum manages to make this more interesting than it may sound here.

 The museum divides its exhibits into eight main focuses.  These are energy, space, ecology, traffic, home, visual (think DVDs), human (various medical technologies) and ubiquitous technologies, including mobile and networking technologies.  The most popular exhibits with kids are those that allow hands-on involvement.  These range from robots and a hair-raising static electricity generator to a 3-D digital “mirror” that lets you try out a hilarious array of virtual hairstyles and makeup styles.


>>Access
Toshiba-cho 1, Komukai Saiwa-ku, Kawasaki-city, Kanagawa

JR Kawasaki station====(10 min. by Board Tokyu bus No.82)====Toshiba Kagakukan-Mae bus stop===(1 min. on foot)====Toshiba Science Museum

>>Hours
9:00 a.m. -4:45 p.m.

>>Holidays
Sunday

>>Fee
Free

>>Reservations
Individual or group guided tour with explanation in Chinese or English available upon request.

>>Website
Toshiba Science Museum (English)

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　-Matt Mangham

>>Hotels and Ryokans in Kawasaki