Tama Rokuto Science Museum in Nishitokyo City, Tokyo is hosting a spring exhibition titled "The Variety of Stones" from March 20 (Friday) to April 5 (Sunday), 2026.
Stones, in the form of building materials and gemstones, can be found all around us in daily life. These stones are products of Earth's dynamic geological processes. The exhibition introduces how stones are classified, how they are formed, and the connection between stones and Earth.
During the exhibition period, from April 3 (Friday) to April 5 (Sunday), a special Mars meteorite specimen will be on display. This specimen comes from the same meteorite that was exhibited at the Japan Pavilion during the Osaka-Kansai Expo. This presents a rare opportunity to observe a real extraterrestrial meteorite up close.
What Exactly Are "Stones"?
The exhibition explores the differences between rocks and minerals, and introduces various types including birthstones, meteorites, and common rocks found in everyday surroundings.
Visitors can see the unique "konjac stone" that slightly bends despite being a rock, and participate in hands-on experiences where they can write or draw on paper using stones.
Exhibition Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Spring Exhibition "The Variety of Stones" |
| Date & Time | March 20 (Friday) to April 5 (Sunday), 2026 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM ※Closed on March 23 (Monday) |
| Venue | Tama Rokuto Science Museum Event Hall |
| Admission | Museum entrance fee only Adults: 520 yen, Ages 4 to High School: 210 yen ※Related events require separate application and participation fees |
| Cooperation | National Institute of Polar Research |
| Website | Event page |
Related Events
Observation Session
47 Prefectures Stone Observation at Musashinomori Park
Date: March 20 (Friday), 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Location: Musashinomori Park, Furusato no Oka
Target Audience: Elementary 3rd grade and above
Instructors: Hisaharu Igo (Professor Emeritus at Tokyo Gakugei University, Museum Special Researcher) and others
Capacity: 25 people / Fee: 500 yen
Application: Lottery ※Deadline: March 9 (Monday)
Lecture
Earth is Made of "Stones" - What are Plates?
Date: March 29 (Sunday), 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Location: Tama Rokuto Science Museum Science Learning Room
Target Audience: Elementary to High School students
Instructor: Tsunehiro Odajima (Museum Nature Group)
Capacity: 24 people / Fee: 500 yen
Application: Lottery ※Deadline: March 16 (Monday)
Casual Experience! Chikyu Lab
Plate Puzzle
Dates: April 1 (Wednesday) to 5 (Sunday), 11 (Saturday), 12 (Sunday), 18 (Saturday), 19 (Sunday)
Time: 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM, 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM, 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM, 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM
Location: Tama Rokuto Science Museum "Chikyu Lab"
Target Audience: Anyone
Fee: Museum entrance fee only
Application: Walk-in participation. Visit the venue during the designated times.
Message from the Exhibition Planner
Earth is composed of "stones." It's no exaggeration to say that stones are everywhere.
The exhibition "The Variety of Stones" introduces the different types of what we call "stones." Learn about the various types of stones and search for the diverse "stones" around you.
The museum would like to express sincere gratitude to the staff members at public facilities in the five constituent cities (Kodaira City, Higashimurayama City, Kiyose City, Higashikurume City, and Nishitokyo City) for their tremendous cooperation in creating this exhibition and the "Stone Material Map."
About Tama Rokuto Science Museum
Opened in 1994, the museum features one of the world's largest planetarium domes with a diameter of 27.5 meters, projecting 140 million stars. It offers an experiential museum with five exhibition rooms where visitors can enjoy observations, experiments, and hands-on activities. The museum is operated by five cities: Kodaira, Higashimurayama, Kiyose, Higashikurume, and Nishitokyo.
Location: 5-10-64 Shibakubo-cho, Nishitokyo City, Tokyo 188-0014
Phone: 042-469-6100
Website: https://www.tamarokuto.or.jp/
