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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center

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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center

See Japan’s space exploration in action up close. Many trial models of spaceships are on display.

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JAXA Tsukuba Space Center is Japan’s largest core agency to explore space through a variety of projects such as developing and running satellites, building rockets and transportation systems, and training astronauts.

The green premises, as big as 12 Tokyo domes, host multiple research buildings. Near the front gate of the Center, an H-II Rocket built by Japan is on display. It is about 50m-long, weighs 260 tons and is 4m in diameter, which is a real aircraft used for a ground test.

The Space Dome, which is a museum built on the Center’s ground, has satellites, rocket engines and other test models on display along with detailed explanations of their functions. There is a life-size mock-up of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo. Step inside the detailed representations and imagine yourself as a real astronaut.

In a guided tour (reservation required), you can watch the introduction video of Tsukuba Space Center, monitor a variety of equipment in the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo, tour the control room that supports astronauts’ activities from Earth, and look around the facilities used to select, train, and maintain the health of astronauts. (As of November 2021, guided tours are suspended)

Highlights

  • Exhibitions under different themes are held.
  • Planet Cube’s museum shop has space food, such as curry and rice eaten by astronauts in space, and space-related goods available.
  • The exhibition hall shows the models of Japan’s rockets in the past mainly on a 1/20 scale, and the test model of the H-II Transfer Vehicle, Konotori, which carries supplies to the International Space Station.

Photos

  • Accurately-recreated life-size model (C)JAXA

    Accurately-recreated life-size model (C)JAXA

  • A life-size model of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo (C)JAXA

    A life-size model of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo (C)JAXA

  • Aerial view of JAXA Tsukuba Space Center (C)JAXA

    Aerial view of JAXA Tsukuba Space Center (C)JAXA

  • Genuine H-II rocket (for the ground test) at the rocket plaza (C)JAXA

    Genuine H-II rocket (for the ground test) at the rocket plaza (C)JAXA

  • The test model of the H-II Transfer Vehicle, Konotori (C)JAXA

    The test model of the H-II Transfer Vehicle, Konotori (C)JAXA

Reviews

4

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • 林夕
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    The exhibits are incredibly professional, but the explanations are really easy to understand. There's even a real rocket model—seeing it in person was actually pretty moving.

  • Mei Xu
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    You can see lots of interesting things here, not just the exhibits.

  • XaoXao
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    You can learn a bit about aerospace here. It's a great place to visit!

Details

Name in Japanese
宇宙航空研究開発機構（JAXA）筑波宇宙センター
Postal Code
305-8505
Address
2-1-1 Sengen, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki
Closed
Varies. Dec 29 - Jan 3, Facility maintenance day, etc.
* Check the website for the days open.
Hours
10:00am - 5:00pm (Museum Shop closes at 4:30pm)
Admission
Free (Online reservation required)
* Touring the facility (Online reservation required) 500 yen
Ages 18 and under (High schooler and younger): Free. Tours:11:30am, 3pm. About 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Directions
1) From Tsukuba Express, Tsukuba Station, ride Kanto Railway Bus for 6 min. Get off at the National Institute for Materials Science and walk a short distance.
2) From Joban Line, Arakawaoki Station, ride the Kanto Railway Bus for 15 min. Get off at the National Institute for Materials Science and walk a short distance.
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa