“But where does Tokyo’s water come from?” I imagine that’s a question many of you have asked yourselves. Let me introduce you to the Kuramae Water Museum. It’s more than just a museum it is a journey into the vital resource that sustains this metropolis.
The Kuramae Water Museum offers insight into Tokyo’s water system. It is a modern, educational resource provided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Bureau of Waterworks. The bureau also runs the Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum.
Inside the Kuramae Water Museum, interactive exhibits await. These exhibits are designed to educate through fun. The Wakuwaku Mountain and the Ukiuki Pool welcome you as you enter. Water spray guns and underwater observation posts add to the fun for the kids.
The Aqua Lab at the Kuramae Water Museum offers a number of water-based experiments. The Aqua Trip zone highlights the way water makes its way from the natural world to urban homes. Aqua Forest explores water in the natural world. Aqua Town focuses on water in urban daily life.
The Kuramae Water Museum is not all grey and technical. The museum is colourful, exciting and interactive. Experiments, multi-walled theatre showings, and interactive displays all feature here. The experience ends with a tour of the local Ariake water facility.
The Kuramae Water Museum comprises six floors. Three are above ground and three underground. The three underground floors are an actual working water supply station called the Ariake pumping station. You can access them with the Aqua tour. Descend into the depths and see the sizes of the pipes that supply Tokyo’s water. Observe the massive pumps that supply the surrounding area. The tour offers a high level of audience participation.
The three spacious floors above ground offer hands-on displays. Enjoy the Aqua Garden on the first floor. It has an avant-garde sculpture garden. The Aqua Lounge is on the second floor. It is accessible through a massive, lit-up tunnel. The Aqua Technology display is also on the second floor. It showcases the various machines and devices involved in water supply.
The third floor has a hands-on Aqua Laboratory. Kids can take part in various experiments here. Best of all is the Aqua Planet virtual theatre. Its virtual white water rafting trip is a must-do.
The Kuramae Water Museum is simply one of those perfect places for families. It is an easily enjoyed attraction for an hour or two. Education-wise there is a lot to be learned. In terms of fun, there is a lot to be had.
So, as you explore Tokyo, remember the Kuramae Water Museum. Think of the engineering, the science, and the sheer effort that goes into bringing clean water to your tap. It’s a story worth knowing, a resource worth cherishing, and a museum well worth visiting.