Museum of the Meiji Restoration
Museum of the Meiji Restoration
Museum of the Meiji Restoration
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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4.0
435 reviews
Excellent
163
Very good
190
Average
74
Poor
8
Terrible
0
BetsyHK
Hong Kong, China235 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
This looks like a fairly new museum with many interactive displays for children. There are several short movies to watch with different languages available. The staff is friendly and helpful, although English is limited. It helped me better understand the role Kagoshima played in Japanese history.
Written 25 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine T
Wollongong, Australia25 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
Hadn't realised what a significant role this city and Kyusyu had played in 'recent' Japanese history- the conflict and determination of the scholars of Kagoshima. Their story is remarkable, they must have been extremely clever, intelligent and adaptable young men. We came to Kagoshima because of its geography and came away impressed also by its history.
Excellent museum and interesting show to illustrate the history [English language headsets are excellent]
Excellent museum and interesting show to illustrate the history [English language headsets are excellent]
Written 11 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lithiumbass
Waterloo, Canada280 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
First of all, adult entry fee is 300 yen and if you have the Kagoshima City "Cute" day pass for public transit, you will get a rebate on your entry fee.
I recommend this museum for any history lover. It greatly details the events leading to the Meiji Restoration. The museum not only chronicles the important people, but also the advances in technology and the culture of the time.
On top of this, most of these displays visual, such as ships, Saigo Takamori, rooms, weapons, etc... Although they are all displayed in Japanese, a free audio guide can be borrowed (free).
Finally, every 15 or so minutes, there is a theatrical play in the basement entirely done by lifelike androids. They don't walk around, but they do move, blink and speak. And this too, can be heard in English via headphones.
However, there are some displays that are inevitably only in Japanese. Regardless this is a great museum and plan to stay here at least 1 1/2 hour to visit all exhibits thoroughly.
I recommend this museum for any history lover. It greatly details the events leading to the Meiji Restoration. The museum not only chronicles the important people, but also the advances in technology and the culture of the time.
On top of this, most of these displays visual, such as ships, Saigo Takamori, rooms, weapons, etc... Although they are all displayed in Japanese, a free audio guide can be borrowed (free).
Finally, every 15 or so minutes, there is a theatrical play in the basement entirely done by lifelike androids. They don't walk around, but they do move, blink and speak. And this too, can be heard in English via headphones.
However, there are some displays that are inevitably only in Japanese. Regardless this is a great museum and plan to stay here at least 1 1/2 hour to visit all exhibits thoroughly.
Written 3 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ichibanwanderer
Somerset350 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
I was actually on a city tour (Japanese) with my wife and this was our first stop. While my time was limited the museum staff went out of their way to ensure that I received a visitors guide in English. My brief view of the museum showed that there were a number of English explanations and I understand that headphones are available. Probably the highlight was the show where once again one of the staff members asked if I would like headphones for an English explanation and showed me to my seat and ensured the earphones were working. The presentation which lasted for about 20 minutes was excellent and provided a lot of background to what happened during the period and how the Satsuma figured in the restoration. Having been around many exhibitions in Japan this is one of the few where every effort has been made to cater for non Japanese, and the staff must be thanked for adapting to increasing numbers of overseas guests. It may not be perfect but this exhibition is definitely worth a visit if you are visiting Kagoshima.
Written 22 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
atb-maguro
Vancouver, BC28 contributions
The display are all very interesting even with video role play game (but in Japanese only). I particular love the 30 minutes drama describing what happened during Meji Resotration (the reform of Japanese govement). There was English tape so you will not totally lost. I definitely love the added bonus of the Atsuhime (篤姫) kimono display. So pretty!
Written 5 July 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christian B
40 contributions
Oct 2018
I went here and was quite disappointed to find that almost all the material was in Japanese only. It seemed very interesting but for a foreigner who does not speak the language, it was a bit of a waste of time.
They showed an interesting movie about the industrial revolution in Japan with English audio - that is nice, but other than there is not much for non-Japanese speakers here
They showed an interesting movie about the industrial revolution in Japan with English audio - that is nice, but other than there is not much for non-Japanese speakers here
Written 11 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Henrik R
67 contributions
Jul 2018
I am history major, however, I seldom like history museums, nevertheless I occasionally visit. I also visited the museum of the Meiji restoration in Kagoshima. A period of Japanese history I find particularly interesting. I guess I in general find the nation construction history interesting.
The displays at the museums are done the classical (boring) way. Artifacts with an accompanying meta text. Here ofcourse mainly in Japanese. The museum also shows two short movies about people from the Kagoshima area who played a role in the making of modern japan.
It’s possible to watch the movies with audio in English.
The movies were okay, but not more than that. Mainly because they focus on persons which to me isn’t that interesting.
But people and historians have different likings.
Would I go again. Yeah. I would. If not just to have a cup of coffee outside the museum looking at the river.
The displays at the museums are done the classical (boring) way. Artifacts with an accompanying meta text. Here ofcourse mainly in Japanese. The museum also shows two short movies about people from the Kagoshima area who played a role in the making of modern japan.
It’s possible to watch the movies with audio in English.
The movies were okay, but not more than that. Mainly because they focus on persons which to me isn’t that interesting.
But people and historians have different likings.
Would I go again. Yeah. I would. If not just to have a cup of coffee outside the museum looking at the river.
Written 14 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bomani
Richmond, Canada223 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
This museum is a fascinating collection and explanation of the geological and human history of Kyushu, particularly southern Kyushu. We spent more than 2 hours looking and reading and actually could have slowed down a bit to study more carefully. One of the better museums we have visited.
Written 11 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lance F
Willetton, Australia54 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
We enjoyed the visit greatly. Although it is small with only two levels, it gives a comprehensive coverage of the historic milestone for Japan and the world. Make sure budget an hour for the two multimedia shows. Inform the reception at the entrance and they will provide headphone and reserve a seat beforehand. - English, Chinese and Korean are available. Walking distance to the Kagoshima Station and cheap admission of 300 yens
Written 31 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fel
Singapore, Singapore112 contributions
Apr 2015 • Solo
I came here because I had read pretty good reviews about it on TripAdvisor. It was not featured in any other guidebooks or blogs I read. And I wasn’t disappointed!
The museum documents the transition Japan made towards Meiji era and the lives of two instrumental figures, Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi. It was a very educational visit and I am quite amazed how Kagoshima was actually in the center stage of this revolution! I mean, hardly anyone has heard of or wants to visit Kagoshima. Of course they also have this really interesting video / play on “The Road to the Restoration” which depicts well, the road towards the Meiji Restoration. And also “Satsuma Students, Go West!” about the young men who went to London to learn about Western technologies. The museum provided English audio guides for the exhibits and this video / play so it was really enriching experience. I had only wanted to spend 1h there but ended up using 1.5h. After visiting this museum, I went on a 'trip' to find all the 'related' statues. And I guess you can appreciate the other (less known) sights in Kagoshima better.
The staff here were really friendly and helpful as well despite not being exceptionally fluent in English. It's a short walk from JR Kagoshima-Chuo and is also the first stop of the CityView bus.
The museum documents the transition Japan made towards Meiji era and the lives of two instrumental figures, Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi. It was a very educational visit and I am quite amazed how Kagoshima was actually in the center stage of this revolution! I mean, hardly anyone has heard of or wants to visit Kagoshima. Of course they also have this really interesting video / play on “The Road to the Restoration” which depicts well, the road towards the Meiji Restoration. And also “Satsuma Students, Go West!” about the young men who went to London to learn about Western technologies. The museum provided English audio guides for the exhibits and this video / play so it was really enriching experience. I had only wanted to spend 1h there but ended up using 1.5h. After visiting this museum, I went on a 'trip' to find all the 'related' statues. And I guess you can appreciate the other (less known) sights in Kagoshima better.
The staff here were really friendly and helpful as well despite not being exceptionally fluent in English. It's a short walk from JR Kagoshima-Chuo and is also the first stop of the CityView bus.
Written 5 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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