Dinosaurs and Cockroaches♪
At Osaka Museum of Natural History

● At Osaka Museum of Natural History

Nagai Park is conveniently located about 20 minutes from Osaka Metro’s Namba Station.This vast, beautiful park serves as an oasis amid the hustle and bustle of Osaka.
Osaka Museum of Natural History sits next to the Botanical Garden within this oasis.
The museum is a popular destination for school field trips in Osaka. With exhibits featuring dinosaur fossils, rare species, and more, it’s a fascinating spot for kids and adults alike.

We took Osaka Metro to Nagai Station and walked east through Nagai Park for about nine minutes.

At the museum entrance, we were greeted by a massive blue whale skeleton specimen! This is the largest whale species in the world, with adults growing up to around 19 meters long. Just look up from underneath and you’ll get a real sense of its incredible size.
This specimen was created from the carcass of a blue whale that washed ashore the Port of Sakai-Semboku along Osaka Bay, just south of Osaka City. It’s a fascinating reminder that Osaka Bay is connected to the vast ocean beyond, where even these enormous creatures live. How cool is that?!

As we walked into the exhibit hall, we were greeted by another impressive sight: a Naumann elephant! Footprints and teeth from this elephant have been found in rock layers beneath Osaka. That means these enormous animals once roamed the very land where Osaka stands today!

If you’re visiting with kids, look out for the QR codes on the orange panels marked “For Kids.” Scanning the code gives you access to easy-to-understand information written especially for younger visitors.
YouTube videos created by the museum’s exhibition curators are also available to help you get more out of the exhibits.

Osaka Museum of Natural History is a participating partner of Bloomberg Connects app, a free multilingual digital guide to museums around the world. Use your phone to access information about the exhibits and audio guides, and learn more about the exhibits as you explore.

To make the most of your visit, take advantage of the free coin lockers near the elevator in Naumann Hall. With your bags safely stored and kid-friendly explanations to guide you, you’ll be ready to explore even more!

※Please note: Some photos in this article show insect specimens, including cockroaches. If you’re sensitive to insects, you may want to skip these images.

● Five Permanent Exhibits: From Dinosaurs to Insects and Plants

Exhibition Hall 1 explores “The Natural World Around Us.”
We learned about alien species found around Osaka’s ports. Apparently, imported lumber can bring some unexpected visitors—not just insects, but even scorpions and lizards hiding among the piles of wood!
Well, that’s one way to cross the ocean, I suppose!

This particular exhibit made perhaps the biggest impression on me at the entire museum.
It’s a huge cockroach 😂
Definitely not something I’d want to find in my kitchen…

Here’s an exhibit on rural nature. The bamboo forests and wooded landscapes around us were shaped and maintained by people over generations to support their livelihoods.

We learned what people in Osaka ate during the Jomon Period (c. 14,000–1,000 BCE). They hunted animals and caught fish back then, making the most of the abundant nature around them. It’s hard to imagine Osaka as a place with such rich natural surroundings today!

Exhibition Hall 2 explores the “History of the Earth and Life,” with a dinosaur exhibit that just happened to be the main reason we came!
So. Many. Dinosaur. Skeletons. It was spectacular!

So big, too! Just looking up at it, you can really feel its sheer size.
I love how tangible museums can be. You can actually see and physically experience these things up close. It’s an entirely different experience from seeing them on a screen or reading about them in a book.
What would you do if you encountered an animal this huge in real life?! It’s hard to believe that creatures like these once roamed the Earth.

This is what it really means to “experience” the size of a dinosaur! Kids can easily fit inside the footprint of a huge Apatosaurus.

Some exhibits at the Osaka Museum of Natural History can actually be touched!
The ammonite fossil was surprisingly smooth. It really felt like a rock in my hand.

The two Desmostylus skeletons are slightly different. The one on the left is an older reconstruction based partly on animals similar to Desmostylus that still exist today. The one on the right is a newer reconstruction based on anatomical analysis of Desmostylus bones.
It’s fascinating to see how our understanding of what this creature looked like changes as scientific research advances.

The timeline showing Earth’s history from its formation was very educational, even for adults.

Exhibition Hall 3 explores the “Evolution of Life.”
We discovered the incredible diversity of life on Earth today, from tiny insects to enormous whales.

We learned about the food chain and the fascinating survival strategies of different creatures.

The wall is covered with beautiful insects in an amazing array of colors and patterns.

From apes to humans—we evolve.

“Gifts from Nature” is the theme of Exhibition Hall 4.
Here, you can learn about the origins of the plants we eat.

A large dung beetle immediately caught my eye.
Kids love big bugs, too, and this one is especially fun—it’s all about poop (lol)!

Exhibition Hall 5 explores “The Lives of Living Things.”
We learned how living organisms are connected and support one another—from microorganisms that break down carcasses and feces to flowers that provide nectar for insects while they carry pollen from plant to plant.

The boys seemed much more interested in this game than studying, though!
But hey, it’s still a fun way to learn about the natural world?!

● Shop for Souvenirs at the Museum Shop

The museum shop is a great place to find educational toys for kids and fun, unique items for adults.

The exhibits were fantastic! We couldn’t believe two hours had already flown by!
There’s a lot of walking, so comfortable shoes are definitely a good idea (lol).

Oh, this museum also has a café! Grab lunch or take a break there, and you can easily make a relaxing day of your museum visit.

Admission is free for kids under 15, while high school and university students pay just ¥200 and adults ¥300. It’s an incredible value for everything you can see and experience!

With fascinating exhibits for both kids and adults, Osaka Museum of Natural History is a perfect destination for a family day out. Enjoy a visit to the museum followed by a picnic in Nagai Park—it’s another great way to spend the day!