Splash-waterparks, onsen, pools , fountains, Tokyo is full of water attractions. One of them is the Tokyo Water Science Museum in Koto-ku, provided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government‘s Bureau of Waterwork and free to enter. The exhibition is located on site of the Ariake pumping station.
On three floors the museum offers an overview about the water cycle, its supply and utilization in every day life.
Right behind the entrance the Aqua Park, a beautiful play area, welcomes the visitors with the WakuWaku mountain and its waterfall and the UkiUki pool where our kids loved to crawl beneath the pool area and peak through the transparent bubbles.
The second floor displays Aqua Town and Aqua Laboratory. Aqua Town with miniature models and an exemplary kitchen helps understanding how water is used at home and in urban life. In the lab we could make water bubbles, experiment with water tanks and change the water levels in it. What we liked best was a platform we had to stand on while pulling a rope that lifted a ring of cotton soaked with soap around us and left us in a giant soap-bubble
On the third floor we visited Aqua Forest with a giant tree for the kids to sit in and Aqua Trip, a film projected onto three walls plus the ceiling letting us follow the water cycle.
You can also take part in a guided tour down to the water supply station which we had to leave for next time.
All in all the Water Science Museum is a beautiful, fun and educational exhibition for children.
Adress: 3-1-8 Ariake, Koto, Tokyo 135-0063 By train: Yurikamome Line to Tokyo Big Sight Station or Rinkai Line to Kokusai-Tenjijo station Website: http://www.mizunokagaku.jp Opening hours: 9:30am - 5.00pm (last entrance: 4:30pm) Closing day: Monday
Japan it is! 