The Summer Vacation Children's Chemistry Experiment Show 2026 will take place on August 1 (Saturday) and 2 (Sunday) at the Science Museum's 1st-Floor Exhibition and Event Hall in Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Now in its 31st year, the event is free to attend and primarily targets elementary through middle school students.
Organized by the "Yume Kagaku-21" Committee — made up of the Chemical Society of Japan, Society of Chemical Engineers, New Chemical Technology Research Association, and Japan Chemical Industry Association — the show has been running since 1993 with the goal of sparking children's curiosity about chemistry. This year, the format has shifted from a walk-in system to advance reservations, so be sure to book your spot ahead of time.
16 Programs to Make Chemistry Fun
The event offers children a chance to experience chemistry through "touching, creating, and thinking." All 16 programs require advance reservations and fall into two categories: Experiment Experience Events and Stage Events.
In the Experiment Experience Events, participants try out inventive experiments guided by participating chemistry companies and organizations. Highlights include working with UV-curing resin and crafting bath bombs with baking soda — a varied lineup of activities that could even serve as inspiration for a summer science project.
Stage Event: "Why? Chemistry Quiz Show"
The popular "Why? Chemistry Quiz Show" features teachers from schools and research institutes conducting live experiments while posing chemistry quiz questions to the audience. Held twice daily, it's an interactive program that the whole family can enjoy while learning about chemistry.
Event Details
- Dates: August 1 (Saturday) and 2 (Sunday), 2026; doors open at 8:45 AM
- Venue: Science Museum, 1st-Floor Exhibition and Event Hall (2-1 Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda, Tokyo)
- Programs: 16 in total (see program list below)
- Participation fee: Free (admission fee required for the Science Museum's permanent exhibitions)
- Eligibility: Elementary through middle school students; each child may reserve up to 2 experiment programs during the event period (some programs are open to all ages from preschool through middle school — see the event flyer for details)
- Reservations: Advance reservation required; booking opens at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, July 1 at https://kagaku21-summerchemshow.net/
- Website: https://www.kagaku21.net/summershow/index.html
Program List
Experiment Experience Events
| No. | Program | Exhibitor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grow Your Own! Sparkling Crystal Factory | Mitsui Chemicals (Fushigi Tanken-tai) |
| 2 | [Light Experiment] Create Art with Polarizing Filters! | Sumitomo Chemical |
| 3 | [Why?] The Mystery of Colors: Make Your Own Rainbow-Colored Sticker | Resonac |
| 4 | Sticky Magic! Craft Experience and Water Mystery Experiment! | Toagosei |
| 5 | Make Bathing Fun — Create Your Own Bubbly Bath Bomb with Baking Soda! | Tokuyama Corporation |
| 6 | One of a Kind! Make Your Own Original Kaleidoscope! | UBE Corporation |
| 7 | [Glows in the Dark!] Kirarinkun Aurora Ball | Nippon Kayaku |
| 8 | Make a Sparkling Coaster with Colorful Beads! | Tosoh Corporation |
| 9 | Become an Energy Expert! Spin and Store — Generate Your Own Electricity! | Asahi Kasei |
| 10 | Exciting Experiment: Extract DNA from Everyday Foods! | Chemical Society of Japan, Public Engagement Committee |
| 12 | Flash and Harden! Create Glowing Artwork in the Dark | Mitsubishi Chemical |
| 13 | Uncover the Secret of a Magic Powder! — Fun Experiments and a Mysterious Water-Rolling Maze | Evonik Japan |
| 14 | Make Your Own Original Glittery Sensory Bottle! | Hodogaya Chemical |
| 15 | Color Without Touching — Colorful Magic with Electricity and Water! | Nippon Paint Group |
| 16 | A Glittering, Shimmering World of Water and Oil — Learn About Everyday Emulsification in a Fun Way | Kao Corporation |
Stage Event
| No. | Program | Exhibitor |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Why? Chemistry Quiz Show | Chemical Society of Japan, Public Engagement Committee |
