Museum of Maritime Science
船の科学館
Board Sōya, Japan's first Antarctic research ship, moored on the Tokyo waterfront.
Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-09-14 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
The Museum of Maritime Science opened in 1974 on the Tokyo Bay waterfront, in a building shaped like an ocean liner. Its main exhibition closed in 2011, the annex and outdoor exhibits in January 2024, and the building has since been demolished. The museum now carries on around the Sōya, Japan's first Antarctic research ship, moored in Aomi, Kōtō City, and open to visitors.
The Sōya was built in 1938 as an ice-strengthened cargo ship and served through the Pacific War; afterwards it carried people home from overseas and supplied lighthouses. From November 1956 to April 1962 it sailed on six Japanese Antarctic expeditions, then patrolled northern waters for the Japan Coast Guard until it retired in 1978. It has been on show here since May 1979, and visitors can walk its decks and cabins, kept as they were in its Antarctic years.
We have checked the opening hours and the way in by Yurikamome, Rinkai Line or bus; they are in “Plan your visit” below. Odaiba is about 1.1 km away.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- So-ya — natto · Public domain · source · resized
- At Tokyo 2024 421 — Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- At Tokyo 2024 422 — Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- At Tokyo 2024 426 — Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Icebreaker Soya @ Maritime Museum @ Tokyo (9730176617) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Icebreaker Soya @ Maritime Museum @ Tokyo (9730177039) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Icebreaker Soya @ Maritime Museum @ Tokyo (9730177451) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Icebreaker Soya @ Maritime Museum @ Tokyo (9730178453) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Icebreaker Soya @ Maritime Museum @ Tokyo (9730179701) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Icebreaker Soya @ Maritime Museum @ Tokyo (9730181265) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
What this place is
The Museum of Maritime Science (船の科学館, Fune-no-Kagakukan) opened in 1974 on the Tokyo Bay waterfront, in a building shaped like an ocean liner. Its main exhibition closed in 2011, the annex and outdoor exhibits closed in January 2024, and the building has since been demolished. The museum carries on around Sōya, Japan's first Antarctic research ship, moored in Aomi, Kōtō, and open to visitors. Sōya was built in 1938 as an ice-strengthened cargo ship and served through the Pacific War. It later carried repatriates and supplied lighthouses. From November 1956 to April 1962 it sailed on six Japanese Antarctic expeditions, then patrolled northern waters for the Japan Coast Guard until it was retired in 1978. It has been on display here since May 1979. Visitors walk its decks and cabins, kept as they were in its Antarctic years. The foundation behind the museum also runs workshops and events about the sea and ships.
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-14 · Museum of Maritime Science: official website (hours, closing days, access, boarding notes) · Museum of Maritime Science: the Antarctic research ship Soya · Japan Maritime Science Foundation: English site
What to expect at this type of place: Museum
Getting there by public transport
- Yurikamome line to Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station (17 minutes from Shimbashi, 14 minutes from Toyosu).
- Or the Rinkai Line to Tokyo Teleport Station, then about a 12-minute walk.
- Toei bus 海01 (Monzen-nakacho – Toyosu Station – Tokyo Teleport Station) stops at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station.
Route checked: 2026-09-14 · Museum of Maritime Science: official website (hours, closing days, access, boarding notes) · Museum of Maritime Science: the Antarctic research ship Soya · Japan Maritime Science Foundation: English site · Timetables change — check the operator before you travel.
Traveler reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to share how it went.