We take the subway, and walk the three blocks to the museum. The approach on the museum grounds proper is through a park-like area with trees and some artificial water features. The water channels, stepping stones, and fountains strongly remind me of similar elements at the Getty museum in Los Angeles. Very pretty.
The building itself is visually dominated by the planetarium sphere, which sits suspended above the entrance plaza on the two wings of the museum. Out in front there are a few big rockets, which we are led to believe are spares from launching the International Space Station. One of the big fuel tanks is cut in half, displaying the impressive hexagonal pocketed internal walls.
Inside, the layout is pretty impressive. Lots of interactive stuff, play areas, water and air and waves and electricity and history and machines. There's one area entirely devoted to disassembled household appliances, so you can see what's inside and how they work. I think the girls favorite was the tornado chamber, just because it was big and spectacular.
We eat lunch in an atrium full of picnic tables. There's a Coriolis pendulum in the center of the room. After lunch we walk through a few more exhibits, but everyone is getting tired fast. We head out by way of the lobby, where the girls and I look at the huge rocket motor from all angles. We drop by the park for a half an hour and play on the big concrete sculpture (which gives me a few ideas) before wending our way back.
On the way, we stop and look at the steam engine sitting on a short section of rail. The girls point out that the railroad is very short, and you won't be able to go very far. I ask them how the train got there, which apparently blows their minds. We also stop to examine a hydroelectric turbine (which the girls climb inside) and an unmanned submarine robot. By now we're all thoroughly tired. We try to find a pizza place, but after wandering around blank corridors for a while we conclude that it's delivery only.
I think the girls (and by extension, the parents) would have had a better time if they were about three years older. I feel like I got more out of it than they did. On the other hand, it's hard to tell what sticks! It's certainly an excellent museum.
So, that was Saturday. Sunday we spent several hours at church teaching English class. Monday we went to Tsurumai Park and walked around the Vegan Festival, played at the park for a while, and then went home and played video games all afternoon.
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