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THE INSTITUTE
FOR NATURE STUDY
NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM,
TOKYO
The Institute for Nature Study, Shizen kyoiku en in
Japanese, is a branch of the National Science Museum, Tokyo.
It occupies
a 200,000 square meter area with various original habitats
of the Tokyo area, such as forest, marsh and ponds. Because the
Institute’s
garden has been an isolated natural habitat in the urban area
and has remained well conserved for many years, it is a valuable
place where rich biota are maintained. At the Institute, the
museum staff conduct original research on ecology and education.
They also have educational programs on the weekend.
History
About 500 - 600 years ago, this area's district lord, Shirokane
Choja, built his house and fortified it using earthworks
surrounding the house. You can see the earthworks, on which evergreen
oaks
grow now. After 1664, during the Edo period, this area became
the residential site of lord Matsudaira who created
a garden that contained ponds and herbaries. In 1872, during
the Meiji
period, the navy and army constructed gunpowder warehouses here.
In 1917, this area became an Imperial estate called Shirokane
goryochi. The natural environment has been conserved since
that time. In 1949, the area was designated as a natural monument
and as a historic site. It was opened as the Institute for Nature
Study under the Ministry of Education.
Open Hours
9:00 - 16:30; 9:00 - 17:00 from May 1 to August 31 (Last
admissions 16:00)
Closed:
Every Monday (Tuesday when a national holiday falls on Monday);
the day after a national holiday (but open on Saturday and
Sunday); December 28 to January 4.
Admission fee:
Adults and college students: 300 yen. Children and youths
in grades 1-12: Free
* Seniors (65 or over) with ID are admitted free of charge
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Important Notes
・Please do not pick flowers, leaves, or take seeds.
・Smoking is permitted only at benches with ashtrays.
・Please do not bring alcoholic beverages, radios, and musical instruments into
the Institute's garden.
・Peddling, distributing handbills, and taking commercial photographs are not
permitted.
・Please do not disturb other visitors by singing, jogging, dancing, or playing
catch.
・Alien species of plants and animals disturb the ecosystem. Please
do not release any alien animals, especially fishes, turtles, or cats. Also,
do not bring your pets to the Institute’s garden. |
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Access
7 minutes' walk from the east exit of Meguro Station on the
JR Yamanote Line.
4 minutes' walk from exit 1 of Shirokanedai Station on the
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line.
Address
5-21-5 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071
Tel: 03-3441-7176 Fax: 03-3441-7012 Email: ins@kahaku.go.jp
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