Museum of Aeronautical Sciences

Airplane museum just outside Narita Airport

The Museum of Aeronautical Sciences (�q��Ȋw������, Kōkū Kagaku Hakubutsukan) is an aviation museum located just outside of Narita Airport at the southern end of its main runway. The museum is of interest to both plane enthusiasts and non enthusiasts alike with lots of real aircraft on display, as well as simulators and other hands-on activities.

Inside the museum you can see full scale replicas of historic planes and components of modern planes such as the landing gear and engine of a Boeing 747. You can also try piloting a plane at one of the museum's life sized simulators or get in the replica cockpits of a Mitsubishi Zero fighter or the Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis.

Additionally, the museum's third floor has an outdoor observation deck with a view of the southern end of Narita Airport's runway, while the fourth floor has a restaurant, and the fifth floor houses an indoor observatory modeled after a flight control tower. Both observation areas and the restaurant have good views of planes taking off and landing.

On a yard in front of the museum there are over a dozen aircraft on display, predominantly smaller propeller planes and helicopters. Some of the aircraft can be entered, and a few come with a simulator.

Besides the museum's observation decks, there are two public viewpoints around the airport from where you can watch the action on the runway. The Sakura no Oka Observation Area is located near the southern end of the runway close to the museum, while the Sakura no Yama Observation Area is at the northern end. Observation decks are also found on each of the airport's terminal buildings.