If you are sightseeing and have a rainy day, you may be in trouble, but there are many places in Tokyo where you can enjoy yourself indoors. In this article, we will introduce eight museum-type facilities in Tokyo that will thrill you even when it rains. From the newest spots to the classic and the obscure, you will want to visit even if it is not raining. Let’s make a rainy day a fun one!
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teamLab Planets TOKYO
TeamLab is a digital content production company that uses advanced technology to create immersive works of art. In recent years, the company has gained popularity by operating dedicated museums around the world.
TeamLab Planets TOKYO DMM is one of the most popular of TeamLab’s facilities. The facility is open until the end of 2027 in Toyosu, a bay area of Tokyo, and is dedicated to the enjoyment of digital art that engages all five senses.
Inside the large building, there are exhibits of different types of artwork, each with its own unique features and ways to enjoy them. Inside the building, including the corridors, the entire area is dimly lit, and like a maze, you will be thrilled and excited to see what is about to happen.
Mori Building Digital Art Museum: Epson TeamLab Borderless
Azabudai Hills, a large-scale commercial facility in Tokyo in 2024. The Epson TeamLabo Borderless, a dedicated TeamLabo museum, was created on its premises.
TeamLab Borderless is a “museum without a map” where you can enjoy digital artworks that have no boundaries and where the artworks mix with each other. It is one of the hottest spots in Tokyo.
Aqua Park Shinagawa
Aqua Park Shinagawa is a cutting-edge aquarium that fuses creatures with sound, light, and images. The park is popular for its powerful dolphin performances, the theme of which changes with the seasons, and the photogenic space that extends throughout the building. The park is open until 8:00 p.m., and visitors can also have drinks inside the park. There are some outside areas, but most of the indoor areas are perfect for when it rains and you are in trouble.
Sumida Aquarium (すみだ水族館)
Located directly under the Tokyo Skytree, Sumida Aquarium is an urban aquarium with many impressive exhibits, such as a penguin pool-type tank, a chin sea eel, and jellyfish exhibits. The attraction of this aquarium is that you can get very close to the creatures. You will be surprised at how close you can get to the creatures.
Konica Minolta Planetarium “Manten”
Planetariums are also a good place to visit on rainy days. Konica Minolta Planetarium “Manten” in Ikebukuro offers a program in collaboration with the popular Japanese video game FINAL FANTASY XIV (FF14) and a healing program with aroma effects, providing a relaxing experience. The fantastic experience of space is recommended for families and couples.
Tokyo Trick Art Museum
For those who want an interesting experience, the Tokyo Trick Art Museum in Odaiba is also recommended. This is an interactive museum where visitors can enjoy Japanese-style trick art with an Edo theme. Trick art is a type of art with interesting tricks, where you can enjoy optical illusions, such as a picture appearing to float in the air even though it is not. Take pictures and enjoy each other’s company!
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation（Miraikan） (日本科学未来館)
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) is an amusement park-like facility where both children and adults can play and learn while encountering and interacting with cutting-edge science and technology. The museum is spacious and offers a variety of hands-on experiences. Those who are interested in science can enjoy themselves all day long. The reasonable price of admission is also a great point.
National Museum of Nature and Science (国立科学博物館)
The National Museum of Nature and Science, a museum with a long history, was founded in 1877. The National Museum of Nature and Science has various exhibits related to natural history and the history of science and technology. In addition to permanent indoor exhibits such as the “Japan Pavilion” where visitors can learn about the origins of the Japanese archipelago and changes in living creatures, and the “Earth Pavilion” where visitors can learn about the history of the earth, there are also outdoor exhibits such as the launch pad for Japan’s first artificial satellite launched in 1970 and a model of a blue whale. The outdoor exhibits include the launch pad of Japan’s first artificial satellite, launched in 1970, and a model of a blue whale.
