About the Facility

Hello, travelers!
I’m Ayu-mama, writer for “SaruKuma”!

Today I’m taking you to a hidden gem in Hakenomiya, Kita Ward, Kumamoto City:
The Water Science Museum (Mizu no Kagakukan)
This is a hands-on facility where visitors can learn all about Kumamoto’s water history, water culture, and how the city’s water and sewage systems work.
Here are the opening hours.
And the best part? Admission is completely FREE!

There’s a free on-site parking lot.
Vending machines are conveniently placed at both the parking lot entrance and the building entrance.
Inside the facility, there’s a fully-equipped accessible multipurpose restroom — perfect for travelers with kids, strollers, or accessibility needs.
Wonderful!

Top Highlights for Visitors

Now let’s step inside!
First, just outside the entrance,
you’ll find a ‘yusui-chi’ (retention pond).

Normally, this pond is filled with water and turns into a wonderful splash zone where kids can play!
During summer it’s usually buzzing with happy children cooling off,
but this year…
Wotta-kun, the museum’s friendly mascot, was there to greet us!
Throughout the museum, easy-to-read panels tell the story of Kumamoto’s water history and culture — great for international visitors curious about why Kumamoto is known as Japan’s “City of Water.”
Hands-on, playable models explain Kumamoto’s famous groundwater in a way kids (and curious adults!) can really grasp…
Touch-screen panels reveal how the water and sewage systems work…
You can walk through a tunnel exhibit…
peek through observation windows…
and even play quizzes and sugoroku-style board games to learn while you have fun…

There’s even a water experiment lab!

As you can see, the museum is packed with playful, hands-on exhibits that thrill kids of all ages!
It’s the perfect place to learn while you play.
The reasons Kumamoto’s water is so famously pure are explained in fascinating detail —
adults will walk away just as impressed as the kids! (Kumamoto’s renowned spring water is even sold in bottled form!)

For the full experience, you’ll just have to come and see it yourself!

Follow us on Instagram for daily updates!
SaruKuma shares family-friendly lunch spots, parks, indoor play areas, and travel tips across Kumamoto.
Thanks for following along(*´∀｀*)

Visitor Information

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is accurate as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.