Established in 1877, the National Museum of Nature and Science boasts one of the richest histories of any museum in Japan. It is Japan's only nationally administered comprehensive science museum, and is a central institute for research in natural history and history of science and technology.

Each floor of National Museum of Nature and Science is organized around a unifying theme, informed by the Museum's rich and high-quality collection of original specimens. Each floor's exhibits work together to convey a message, in turn relating to the overarching message of the permanent exhibits, “Human Beings in Coexistence with Nature.” By presenting these themes in a clear and systematic fashion, the Museum encourages visitors to think about what we can do to protect the environment in which all living things exist and to build a future of harmonious coexistence between people and the natural world.

[Japan Gallery]
Organized around the theme of “The Environment of the Japanese Archipelago,” the Japan Gallery offers exhibits on the nature and history of the Japanese archipelago, the process by which the modern population of Japan was formed, and the history of the relationship between the Japanese people and nature.

[Global Gallery]
The theme of the Global Gallery is “The History of Life on Earth” which explores the deep interrelationships among the earth's diverse living things, the evolution of life as environmental change drives a cycle of speciation and extinction, and the history of human ingenuity.