A friend and fellow mineral dealer is in town for the annual Tokyo Gem and Mineral show. On Tuesday he and suggested to me that we visit the National Museum of Nature & Science in Ueno, Tokyo. The museum has an impressive display of Japanese minerals, so off we went.
I am ashamed to say this was the first time I had ever visited any of the National Museums, there are several here, or even Ueno park. I have been to Ueno a few times, but only on the other side of the train tracks in the shopping districts.
Ueno park is fairly large. Located in North, Central Tokyo, is is comparable to Washington D.C.'s National Mall in the sense that it hosts several National Museums, a lake, a zoo, shrines, cafe's , etc. It's a stop you must include on your itinerary if you visit Tokyo.
We entered on the North side of the park amongst old brick & stone buildings and trees shedding their leaves.
This is the National Museum of all things Japanese opposite the crosswalk in the photo above.
Entering the park you are greeted by a large fountain with blooming tulips.
Immediately to the left of the fountain is the National Museum of Nature & Science. I forgot too take a picture of the exterior, but it's a fairly nondescript building, which actually hides it's beautiful interior.
The entrance fee to the museum is ¥630, or about $5. High School students and younger are free. Entry is through the basement floor which is a bit deceiving because you can't see what awaits you above. This is the view looking up from the first floor.
And looking down from the second floor.
The museum is 145 years old, however the current building was most likely built sometime after WWII. Even so, it was still built during an era when the structure that housed the beautiful displays should rival that the attractiveness of those displays.
Now, to the minerals! Outside of the main mineral display are several of the Japan's largest crystals for their species.
Osumilite (K,Na)(Fe2+,Mg)2(Al,Fe3+)3(Si,Al)12O30, discovered in Sakkabira, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
This is a large cluster with the black osumilite crystals that are larger than normal.
Quartz Japan Law Twin. The name given for two quartz crystals that grow in a V shape. This piece was incredible. The main crystal is about 1' tall. It grew at a separate time from the quartz crystals at the base.
My daughter next to a large smokey quartz for reference.
This is the Japanese mineral specimen exhibit. It was part of the private collection of Mr. Sakurai, one of Japan's most famous collectors.
While many of these specimens would be normal in the USA, Brazil or Pakistan, they are exceptional for Japan.
Large, electric blue linarite crystals.
Garnet
Tourmaline
And a rare mineral from Japan my friend and I are hunting, hydroxylellestadite.
This display was incredible, but there were equally wonderful displays in the other wings containing fossils, animals & technology of Japan.
There are 3 floors to the museum, with each floor having 2 wings. It's a place you may not know you would want to visit, until you actually do. As I said, the whole park is somewhere you should add to your itinerary if you are in town.
As we exited the museum at closing time it was dark outside and we stepped into night. The darkness & lighting provided a beauty of it's own which is another feature I am eager to go back and see soon.
Ueno park and it's many museums is easy to get from most anywhere in Tokyo. From Shinjuku it's just over 20 minutes by subway. It is also a stop on the Yamanote line which loops the city so there are several routes to get there by train.
For further information the Nature & Science Museum here is their website: https://www.kahaku.go.jp/english/index.php
In closing, my friend and I have been running all over the city and the nearby mountains with lots of experiences to share with you. Today we are off to Tokyo's largest gem and mineral show to meet other dealer friends and do some trading. I'll write about those adventures in the coming weeks if you are interested.
Thanks for reading!
Wow! Quite a museum! So many interesting and rare minerals.
What I liked about it is that it was compact enough that you didn't get bored with too much of the same thing. Some museums in the US are like that. This one had just enough of the subject you could get your fill and move on to the next wing. Thanks!
I would love to walk through a mineral exhibit like that with someone as knowledgeable as you. I've visited such exhibits and left with more questions than I started with.
I could definitely help explain a lot, but even I am still learning. One thing I am really loving about minerals right now are 2 generations of growth. Over in your neck of the woods there is iridescent calcite from Oskaloosa, Iowa. Really beautiful material, first a dark calcite grew and was coated with dolomite to give it iridescence, then a secondary growth of calcite came in and grew long, white crystals on top of it all to give a wonderful contrast. Here...
Nature is awesome.
Well, who knew? I've spent time around Oskaloosa, Pella and Lake Red Rock. That is beautiful.
Thanks for all the Points for the Shadow Contest! 🌞
Ohhh I was so curious about what this museum was all about. That's a lot of minerals! Interesting! Might give it a go next time!
Let me ask you, have you been to any of the others? There are quite a few and I'd like to visit another one in the park, so if you have a suggestion that would be great.
In Ueno, you mean? Nope. I've only been to Ueno 2 or 3 times, and not for the museum but for something else like events that were held there.
I've only been to a few museums and this one really got my attention.
The Interior roof structure is really attractive.
Ya, dome roofs really are special. I wish more buildings had them.
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