Gohan (Rice) Museum, Yurakucho

This museum is run by an agricultural association, the JA. It aims to promote rice and rice products and increase awareness for Japan’s staple food. Judging from the events and displays, the museum’s target group are Japanese housewives and their children.

Gohan Museum

How to get in

The Gohan Museum is located in the Tokyo International Forum 1F of  the A Building. It is easy to find, with the museum name written all over the wide glass front. It is open 11am-7pm daily, admission is free. The affiliated Gohan Café is open from 11am-11pm, but last orders have to be made by 10pm.

Exhibition outline

The exhibition is separated in various theme corners. At the entrance, a ring-shaped display with scenes about rice-growing welcomes visitors. Children will have most fun with the computer games (try saving onigiri from burning on the grill or satisfy customers by assembling their favourite sushi). They also can try their abilities with chopsticks and marvel at a great variety of onigiri plastic models. In the meantime, mothers can browse the recipe corner for next lunch’s recipe (all free). One little corner is the ‚library’, comfortable chairs and shelves filled with books and magazines about rice or food in general. A big part of the museum is the event & cooking space where lectures are given and seminars are held.

Visitor convenience

This nice little museum is small enough to not make you tired, but if necessary, take a seat in the library or go to the spacious cafe. It serves lunches and dinners as well as organic coffee. It is a real pity that all information here is Japanese, at least a leaflet with the basics in English would be nice, we are in the Tokyo International Forum, after all. To understand the diagrams and even play the games you need at least some basic Japanese.

Merchandise

There is no shortage of shopping opportunities, the museum shop sells rice products, food and even rice cosmetics, and the ‚Asean Rural Community Plaza’, located between the museum and the cafe, sells pretty handicraft objects from Asian Countries. If you still haven’t filled your bags, you can drop in at the Forum Art Shop next to the museum.

Day of visit: June 25, 2010, Friday
Time spent in the museum: 40 min.
My personal highlight: computer games

Address
Tokyo International Forum Building A, 1F
3-5-1 Marunouchi
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-0005,
Tel. 03-3211-1631
Web: http://www.yoi-shoku.jp/ (Japanese only)

Access
JR Yurakucho Station: 1 min. walk
Tokyo Station (JR, Metro): 5 min. walk from Marunouchi or Yaesu South Exit

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