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National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku)

National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku)

Located in Osaka's Expo'70 Commemorative Park, the National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) is one of the world's largest ethnology museums, specializing in cultural anthropology and ethnology. It houses approximately 346,000 items, including everyday items and ethnic costumes collected by researchers from around the world. The main building's exhibits are divided into nine regional exhibits and cross-cultural exhibits on music and language, and are structured around the globe, starting in Oceania and moving eastward. Visitors can experience various cultures from around the world through approximately 12,000 exhibits, primarily related to everyday items such as food, clothing, and shelter, as well as approximately 800 video programs showcasing rituals, performing arts, and lifestyles around the world. Special and planned exhibitions are also held several times a year.

Barrier-free
Toilet *1 can be
Nursing room *2 available
Touchable exhibits *3 available
Braille
Voice guidance *4 available
Multilingual information available *5
Rest area available
Rental wheelchairs *6 available
Priority parking available
Discounts available for people with disabilities

*1: Barrier-free toilets are available on each floor. 1st floor: behind the information desk (men's), behind the information desk (women's), Minpaku Intelligent Hall (auditorium) lobby, 2nd floor: in front of the Research Plaza, 3rd floor: library.
*2: There is a baby room on the first floor.
*3: Guidance support for the main exhibition hall is available for visually impaired visitors (advance application required). For inquiries, please call 06-6878-8532 (9:00-16:00 excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays).
*4: A Braille pamphlet called "Museum Guide" containing information about the facility and an overview of the exhibits is available for distribution. If you would like one, please ask a staff member at the ticket counter on the second floor of the main building. Audio guides are also available.
*5: Multilingual services are available at the exhibition hall using QR codes. Languages available are Japanese, English, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, Russian, Spanish, and Korean.
*6: Wheelchairs are available for free rental. Please ask a member of staff if you wish to use one. One self-driving mobility vehicle is available in Block C of the Main Exhibition Hall (Culture of the Korean Peninsula, Culture of the Chinese Region, Central and North Asia, Ainu Culture, and Japanese Culture).

Payment Method: Cash, credit cards (various), electronic money (various), barcode payments (various)

Wheelchair users: 15 minutes walk from Osaka Monorail "Expo'70 Commemorative Park Station" (passes through Expo'70 Commemorative Park)
*The station has been designed to accommodate steps and gaps, so wheelchair users can get on and off without assistance from station staff.

*Please check the official website for details.

Facility information

Nearest station: Osaka Monorail "Expo'70 Commemorative Park Park Station" and "Park East Exit Station"
Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (entry until 16:30)

TEL: 06-6876-2151
FAX: 06-6875-0401

Closed days: Wednesdays (or the following weekday if a public holiday falls on a Wednesday), New Year's holiday (December 28th to January 4th)
Facility usage fee: For those with a disability certificate
Those with a disability certificate can enter the exhibition free of charge with one accompanying person.

General admission: 580 yen (780 yen from June 19, 2025)
University students: 250 yen (340 yen from June 19, 2025)
Free for high school students and younger (Free from June 19, 2025)

URL: https://www.minpaku.ac.jp/

Address: 〒565-8511
10-1 Senribanpakukoen, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture Google Maps

Entrances and exits/pathways

1. Route to the National Museum of Ethnology

Exit the ticket gate at Osaka Monorail's "Expo'70 Commemorative Park Station", cross the slope, and go through Expo'70 Commemorative Park to the National Museum of Ethnology.
*The station has been designed to accommodate steps and gaps, so wheelchair users can get on and off without assistance from station staff.
2 Entrances

The entrance is reached by a gentle slope (200cm wide) or a flat path.
The ground is paved, so it's no problem even on rainy days.

Reception, exhibition and passage

1 Reception (Information)

There is a general reception (information desk) on the left side of the main entrance.
There is ample space in front of the reception desk.
2 Exhibition & Passage ①

We have tactile exhibits so that visitors can touch the exhibits with their hands and enjoy a sense of what they are like.
In addition, there is audio guidance within the museum using touch panels and Braille, and explanations of the exhibits are provided using a UD pen.
3 Exhibitions & Passage ②

We have tactile exhibits so that visitors can touch the exhibits with their hands and enjoy a sense of what they are like.
In addition, there is audio guidance within the museum using touch panels and Braille, and explanations of the exhibits are provided using a UD pen.
4 Exhibitions & Passage ③

The main exhibition consists of regional and cross-cultural exhibitions.
The regional exhibition divides the world into Oceania, America, Europe, Africa, and various parts of Asia, including Japan, and is structured so that the exhibit starts in Oceania, circles the world in an eastward direction, and finally reaches Japan.
On the other hand, cross-cultural exhibitions are not regional, but rather focus on a specific genre and provide a broad overview of the world's ethnic cultures. Currently, the museum has permanent exhibits on music and language.
The aisles in the exhibition rooms are 150cm wide and are therefore quite wide.

Exhibition & Walkway/Autonomous Driving Mobility

1 Exhibition & aisle ④

The main exhibition consists of regional and cross-cultural exhibitions.
The aisles in the exhibition rooms are 150cm wide and are therefore quite wide.
2 Exhibition & Passage ⑤

In the language exhibit, there are special machines that will read picture books aloud in a variety of languages when placed on them.
In addition, with the "Braille Card Word Box," when you place a braille card on the table on the reading screen, you will hear the word "thank you" in the language it is written on.
There is also a corner where you can try writing Braille.
3 Exhibitions & Passage ⑥

The main exhibition consists of regional and cross-cultural exhibitions.
The aisles in the exhibition rooms are 150cm wide and are therefore quite wide.
4Autonomous Driving Mobility (WHILL Autonomous Driving Service)

One autonomous mobility vehicle will be available in Block C of the main exhibition hall (Culture of the Korean Peninsula, Culture of the Chinese Region, Central and North Asia, Ainu Culture, and Japanese Culture).

Boarding restrictions *Those who fall under the following categories are not permitted to use the service.
・Those under 140cm tall
・People weighing 136 kg or more
・People using medical equipment (pacemakers, intravenous drips, peritoneal dialysis, oxygen tanks)
・Those who do not agree to the safety precautions posted at the boarding area when using the service

[How to use]
Tickets will be accepted on the day, so please speak to a member of staff at the ticket counter on the second floor of the main building when you arrive.
*No advance reservations are required.

toilet

1. 1st floor multipurpose toilet

Entrance width: 89 cm
Ostomate facilities: None
Multipurpose seat: None
Baby chair: Yes
Diaper changing table: Available *Located in a different location in the toilet.
Door type: sliding
Backrest: None
Warm water washing toilet seat: Yes
Direction of L-shaped handrail when seated: Right side
Type of movable handrail: U-shaped flip-up type
Curtains: None
2. Ostomate toilet on the first floor

Ostomate facilities: available
Changing board: Yes
Door type: Swing door
Backrest: None
Warm water washing toilet seat: Yes
3. Multipurpose toilet on the second floor

Entrance width: 88 cm
Ostomate facilities: None
Multipurpose seat: None
Baby chair: No
Diaper changing table: None
Door type: sliding
Backrest: Yes
Warm water washing toilet seat: Yes
Direction of L-shaped handrail when seated: Right side
Type of movable handrail: U-shaped flip-up type
Curtains: None
4. Multipurpose toilet on the 3rd floor

Entrance width: 85cm
Ostomate facilities: None
Multipurpose seat: None
Baby chair: No
Diaper changing table: available
Door type: sliding
Backrest: Yes
Warm water washing toilet seat: Yes
Direction of L-shaped handrail when seated: Right side
Type of movable handrail: U-shaped flip-up type
Curtains: None

Nursing room, rental wheelchairs and strollers

1. 1st floor baby room

There is a baby room on the first floor.
Hot water is available and a diaper changing station is also provided.
2. Rental wheelchairs and strollers

Wheelchairs are available for free rental. Please ask a member of staff if you would like to use one.

Elevator Videotheque Booth

1 1st floor elevator

There is one wheelchair-accessible elevator near the reception (information) on the first floor.
Entrance width: 89 cm
2 Videotheque Booth

23 Videotheque booths are arranged around a central patio, offering casual viewing of 15-minute programs and multimedia programs for individuals and groups.