The Gifu Science Museum, located in Honjo, Gifu City, has approximately 90 hands-on exhibits under the theme of "Experience with your body and be moved by your mind," including five exhibition rooms (Nature, Phenomena, Technology, Earth, and Space), a large screen projecting Gifu's nature and the universe, and devices that enable visitors to learn about the principles of science.

The facility also offers science shows, star gazing parties, and other events that allow visitors to experience a wide range of emotions, such as wonder and delight, as they come into contact with the real thing and get a closer look at science.

The observatory is equipped with a large telescope, and the planetarium offers program projections and live commentary on the seasonal starry sky.

We will introduce the charm of "Gifu City Science Museum" that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

How to get to Gifu City Science Museum?

The location is Honjo, Gifu City. Free private parking is available on site for easy access by car.

By train, it takes about 15 minutes by Gifu Bus from JR Gifu Station, and about 15 minutes on foot from Nishi-Gifu Station.

Let's go to the reception desk! To prevent infection, follow the numbers to take your temperature and fill out the reception form.

The lobby is rich with displays of rockets and explanations of the constellations. You may have to wait in line, but you won't be bored. It is a great way to get into the spirit of the place!

Tickets for the planetarium go on sale at 9:30 in the morning for the entire day, so it is safe to get tickets for the times you want to see as early as possible.

Now, purchase the necessary tickets and enter the world of science!

A thorough report on the highlights of the Gifu City Science Museum!

All exhibition rooms are on the second floor, up the stairs near the reception desk. The rooms are divided by theme from Exhibition Rooms 1 to 5. The "Super Science Room" is located behind the first exhibition room, and the "Planetarium" is located behind the fourth and fifth exhibition rooms.

Let's take a look from the first exhibition room!

Learn about Gifu's nature "Exhibition Room No. 1: Nature (Richness)"

The first exhibit room is where visitors can learn about familiar creatures and the nature they inhabit. There are also a variety of tools for research.

The highlight is the big screen "Nature Scope"
Hold your tablet over the projected scenery of Gifu City and enjoy the journey of searching for creatures!

The screen on the floor is Nagara River. When visitors take off their shoes and enter the river, the surface of the water shakes and fish run away. Sometimes the names of the fish appear on the screen, and this is a device that naturally stimulates interest.

This is a hands-on, theater-type exhibit. Hold up a numbered plate to the screen and answer the quiz!

The "Super Science Room" is located at the back of Exhibition Hall 1, where science shows are held on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and during long vacations. Experience science in a live performance.

Let's learn about phenomena that occur around us "Exhibition Room 2: Phenomena <Amazing>"

The second exhibition room is where you can experience familiar phenomena such as electricity, sound, and force in a playful way. Let the little ones enjoy themselves to the fullest, and let the older brothers and sisters know how it works and have fun learning!

The "Electric Current Challenge" is a thrilling and exciting challenge! Can you make it to the goal?

There are various ways sound is transmitted. If you experience a strange phenomenon and wonder why, let's find out what's going on.

At the facility where you can learn how forces work, you can enjoy experiencing familiar phenomena from a different angle.

Let's learn excellent scientific technology "Exhibition Room No. 3 Technology <Joy>"

This is where you can experience the wonders of technology.

The "Urban Transportation System" is located in the center of the exhibition room. The diorama of a linear motor car and a Shinkansen bullet train running is an image of Gifu of the future. It is filled with many technologies.

We would like you to try the "Gesture Interface". Can you make a gesture, such as raising your hand, to move a robot or other object on the screen to its destination? ⁉︎

If you are physically fit, try your hand at "bicycle power generation". Try sending electricity to the various appliances in your house in the screen!

We use technology everyday without thinking about it. When we learned how they work, we were amazed at the ingenuity and skill that is not taken for granted. We were reminded of how much we appreciate the superior technology.

In the kids' space in the back, they can enjoy electronic scribbles. They are excited to see their painted vehicles and animals on the screen!

Even small children were fascinated by the "Morino Orchestra," in which music and images flowed when colored blocks were placed.

Let's learn about the structure of the earth "Exhibition Room 4: Earth <Connections>"

From the 4th exhibition room, you will be drawn into the atmosphere of being in outer space. Let's see what the world we live in is like.

As you pass through the tunnel, feeling the scale of the earth, you will see a cross-sectional view on the back side. You will approach the wonders of what is happening inside and on the surface of the earth.

It was amazing to be able to recreate a tornado! We could actually touch it.

When you try and check weather phenomena and learn why, you will feel more familiar with them. It's nice to look up at the sky with knowledge.

It is you in front of the screen who goes on a water journey. Your face becomes a drop of water, and you are off on your water journey in a joyful way!

Learn about the structure and history of the universe "Exhibition Room 5: Space (Expansion)"

Finally, we came to the 5th exhibition room where you can learn about the structure and history of the universe. First, from the weight experiment.

First, let's lift a weight on the Earth and compare the weights of the weights on other planets. You can experience the difference in gravity between different stars.

Next, what would happen if you jumped on a planet other than Earth? The visual difference is easy to understand, and it seems that the second graders were able to understand it well.

A telescope is a longed-for item. It is nice to be able to look through it and learn about the history and mechanism of the telescope. It will make your dreams of space grow.

This is the end of the viewing up to the 5th exhibition room. Next, we will introduce the planetarium!

Let's go on a trip to the starry sky!
Planetarium

If you go further from the 5th exhibition room, there is a planetarium lobby.

There are displays of spacesuits and a planetarium projector imported from Germany in the 1950s.

Until the time is up, we will operate the planetary exploration robot and wait impatiently for the planetarium.

The time has finally come.

At the Gifu City Science Museum planetarium, you should definitely enjoy the live commentary from the astronomy staff! The explanation of the seasonal sky is very easy to understand. You will be drawn into the starry sky.

The second half of the day was a popular cartoon show. My 5-year-old son was able to sit and enjoy watching it until the end.

Programs change from time to time, so please check the website.

there is more
Fun at Gifu City Science Museum

The observatory is located on the rooftop. The main large telescope inside the 5.5-meter-diameter dome is a 50-cm Cassegrain-type reflecting telescope. It is said to be able to clearly see stars that are very difficult to see with the naked eye.

The "Star gazing event" on the second Saturday of every month allows visitors to view various celestial objects through an astronomical telescope. At the time of the interview, the event was being held in the parking lot instead of on the roof due to infection control measures. Other daytime stargazing events are also held on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Please check the website for the latest information, such as changes in hours due to season and changes in capacity due to infection status.

The first floor has a library and newspaper exhibitions, and is recommended for those who want to collect information.

In addition, there are rooms such as craft classrooms and experimental learning rooms, and many lectures and events such as parent-child science classes, science workshops, and invention clubs are held. The contents are also substantial, so if you want to deepen your science, please check it out.

"Gifu City Science Museum" is recommended not only for those who are interested in science, but also for going out on rainy days and for independent research. I hope that everyone will have fun while experiencing science.