The Kawaguchi Science Museum is a place to watch, listen and touch to learn about science. It is home to three observatories designed to monitor different astronomical objects, such as the sun, moon and nebula, and its exhibition rooms contain equipment that demonstrates the mechanisms of various natural phenomena.
If there is something you do not understand, a full-time instructor will help you work on it.
One of the observatories features a telescope that specializes in monitoring the sun. You can observe sunspots on the sun's surface and solar flares around them in real time.
A magnetograph is an important instrument to measure the Earth's magnetic field. The Kawaguchi Science Museum has one of only three such devises to be found in all of Japan -- the other two are at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Mitaka, Tokyo, and Kyoto University's Hida Observatory in Gifu Prefecture.
At the exhibition spaces, visitors can try about 40 kinds of experiments in five sun-inspired fields -- power, light, water, air and life. For example, you can learn how tornadoes are generated by watching special equipment directing streams of air to collide with each other.
You can enjoy the "pendulum wave" phenomenon, in which a row of pendulums move as if making waves when simultaneously released. There are also tools that help visitors solve simple questions such as why objects appear in mirrors.
There are no detailed instructions, however, on how to operate the devices or to conduct experiments. The museum is designed to lead you to the answers by exercising your intellectual curiosity, sometimes with the help of instructors.
Sometimes the experiments do not go smoothly, but I felt good when my questions were answered.
For those who do not feel like doing experiments, the "science experiment show" held on Sundays and national holidays is recommended. Not only children but also adults can learn things while enjoying the show.
Museum director Kumiko Takayama, 53, said: "Experience is important in generating interest in science, space and manufacturing. We want to be a museum that offers a variety of surprises and makes people want to visit us over and over."
Kawaguchi Science Museum:3-12-8 Kamiaoki, Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture
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