Museum of Maritime Science
The Museum of Maritime Science on the island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay is a free-entry facility with a small permanent collection, a ship that can be boarded, and several open air exhibits relating to shipping.
Museum of Maritime Science Odaiba
Museum of Maritime Science Odaiba 船の科学館
Disused shipshaped main building of Museum of Maritime Science Odaiba
The Museum of Maritime Science (or, in Japanese, "The Museum of Shipping") is at the western tip of Odaiba, a man made island in Tokyo Bay with numerous shopping and entertainment facilities. The aim of the Museum is to educate and entertain visitors with ship-related information and exhibits.
The ship-shaped main gallery (closed since 2011) and smaller annex (which has become the virtual main gallery) are right by the ocean, with the Soya, a former surveying ship, berthed right in front. Entry to the Museum of Maritime Science is free.
The massive ship-like main gallery, modeled on the Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner, is under seemingly perpetual "renovation" since 2011. While still providing a fun photo opportunity from the outside, it is showing clear signs of deterioration. The Annex and the Antarctic surveying ship, the Soya, berthed near the Museum are now the main attractions. The Soya, an icebreaker, can be boarded and inspected for an insight into what marine surveying involves. Various objects relating to shipping are exhibited in open air around the Museum premises.
Disused shipshaped main building of Museum of Maritime Science Odaiba
Museum of Maritime Science Odaiba
History
The Museum of Maritime Science was established here in 1974 on what is now Ocean Day. It was founded by the then Japanese Shipbuilding Industry Foundation (now the Nippon Foundation, since 1988). Funding was from the proceeds of boat race gambling run by the Foundation's leader, the nationalist businessman the late Ryoichi Sasakawa.
The Soya surveying ship became a part of the Museum in 1979, and the Annex was added in 2012.
The Soya
The Soya was built in 1938, and took part in the Pacific War (the Second World War). It was first used to repatriate Japanese stranded in former Japanese territories, and then to carry supplies to lighthouses around Japan. From 1956, until its retirement in 1978, it made six marine survey trips to Antarctica. The ship has been berthed at Odaiba as part of the Museum of Maritime Science since 1979.
Museum of Maritime Science Odaiba
Annex
The Annex, which is now the virtual main gallery, displays information and paraphernalia related to shipbuilding and sailing, the shipping industry, the fishing industry, and Japan's ocean environment.
Open Air Exhibits
There are over a dozen outdoor exhibits at the Museum of Maritime Science. Besides a bust of Ryoichi Sasakawa (and others depicting his parents), notable objects include submarines, a massive ship screw, a sea-floor house, two relocated lighthouses, an old battleship cannon, and a wooden fishing boat.
Hours
The Museum of Maritime Science is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the Soya until 4:45 p.m.) every day, but closed Mondays. However, if Monday falls on a national holiday it remains open, and is closed the next day, Tuesday. Closed December 28 to January 3.
Admission
Admission to the Museum of Maritime Science is free.
Access
The Museum of Maritime Science is at the far western end of the man-made island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. Although its address makes it part of Shinagawa ward, it is not on "mainland" Tokyo, but on the western tip of Odaiba, which happens to counted as part of Shinagawa ward.
If you are coming by train, the Museum is right beside Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station on the Yurikamome Line, or 15 minutes walk from Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line.
Museum of Maritime Science website (funenokagakukan.or.jp)
Higashiyashio 3-1, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 135-8587. Tel. 03 5500 1111
Nearby
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation is a science museum especially geared to appeal to children and youth.
The Oedo Onsen Monogatari is a traditional hot spa relaxation facility.
Venus Fort is a shopping and dining complex that forms part of the larger Palette Town attraction.
TeamLab Borderless Odaiba, also part of Palette Town, is a large, constantly updated "digital art museum" featuring mind-bending interactive and immersive displays by the TeamLab digital art collective. Located under the huge Ferris wheel.
