Kagoshima City Science Museum Renovation

Since its opening in 1990, the Kagoshima City Science Museum has provided easy-to-understand explanations of the laws of nature, science and technology, and the universe, fostering creativity in science and improving scientific knowledge.
In this project, we renovated two displays areas, renaming them "Kagoshima and Space" and "Science in Everyday Life." Aiming to create a science museum rooted in the local community, unique to a regional city, we incorporated many elements highly compatible with the region, such as displays that take advantage of Kagoshima's characteristics as home to a JAXA rocket launch site, and interactive exhibits featuring graphics of the local specialty, Sakurajima radish.

To lower the barrier to science and create an environment where curiosity and a spirit of inquiry are naturally fostered, we incorporated not only analog displays but also many digital technologies. In "Gravity Challenge," one of the main displays, a character that reflects the movements of visitors appears on the screen and participates in track and field events on various planets, creating a highly engaging game-like experience where visitors can learn about the differences in gravity on each planet.
Furthermore, we developed an official app linked to displays, introducing a system that allows visitors to acquire over 100 different items online through quizzes and AR experiences. This improved visitor engagement and created an experience that encourages repeat visits, while also strengthening ties with the local community by standardizing its implementation on educational devices distributed throughout the city.

Lowering the barrier to science and appealing to a wide range of age groups.
Maximize the effectiveness displays within a limited budget and enhance the museum's appeal.
○ Create a system that allows users to continue enjoying the product through apps and AR experiences, thereby generating repeat customers.
 

We have received the above request.

○ Utilization of digital content
We have incorporated digital content that balances experiential learning with educational value, enriching displays with an intuitive and enjoyable experience for all ages. Furthermore, our official app allows users to learn at their own pace and challenge themselves with quizzes at home, creating a consistent environment for learning science both inside and outside the museum.
〇 Collaborative displays with local businesses
The content aims to foster a sense of pride among the people of the prefecture by introducing companies and industries from a wide range of fields.
Reuse of existing displays equipment
We partially reused existing displays equipment while considering the experiential and educational effects. We revamped the explanatory graphics and exterior concept design to maintain a sense of renewal.

On May 3, 2026, the number of visitors per day reached the second highest level since the previous renovation, indicating an overall increase in visitor numbers compared to the same period in previous years. Furthermore, it's not just the number of visitors that has increased; the introduction of corporate displays and a dedicated app has broadened the age range of visitors, which we believe has significantly contributed to addressing our challenge of "raising the age range of visitors."
In addition to the new displays, we have also updated the graphics and layout of existing displays, and we feel that this has allowed more people to experience them.