The Hamagin Space Science Center in southern Yokohama is a treasure. Much of it has English translations, it's easy to get to by train, it's not too pricey, and you can spend a whole day with the kids. Click here for a link to it's English site.
Go into a space capsule and have your own adventure.
You get to choose which adventure you go on.
This one looks like a video game, although we know it's a moon mission.

Beware of aliens!
This meteorite you can touch. We all loved the exhibit of lifting 1 kg. on different gravities.
Meteorites are usually made of metal. Proof positive! Although it couldn't compare to the new 'roving exhibit.'
The Japanese would look at what was on display....

We think this is a pretty collection of minerals right here.... Ian, a life form on planet earth!

This was a pretty cool thing to do. You tried to get your ball to get around the gravitational pull of planets (holes they'd spin around, and eventually fall into) and into another galaxy. It was pretty hard to do! Dougie was pretty much into just shooting the balls as quickly as possible. Mission Control Caroline was able to successfully do it 3 times!
This was a fun little display on light and how it works. Of course you can tell William dressed himself this morning. He woke up at 5:30 excited to take the train and meet up with the Anthony's. He sat at the top of the stairs, by the entrance to our room until we woke up. Can you say EXCITED?
Playing with light. Both the kids... wow, the older one shaved his mustache, and now he looks, and acts much younger!
Hallie and Stefan at one of the cool light exhibits. It doesn't show with the flash.
And there's the day's top attraction again.

William even used his Japanese with other kids and a few adults. He wanted to go on one of the 'rides' by himself, and did a great job of asking. We have video of it, but it's one of those we must edit, and transfer, and, and, and... my ease and joy in blogging has gotten really tough since the old camera died mid-October. Can you tell?