With summer here, there are more opportunities for family fun. For something slightly out of the ordinary, why not try stopping by an evening event at the aquarium, zoo or one of the city’s museums? Although you won’t see exhibits coming to life like the movie Night Museum, you can enjoy something different at one of these evening events.
At Marine World Uminonakamichi, the “Night Aquarium” event that was popular last year is back again this year until mid-September with the theme of “Ancient Aquarium.” Here, you can explore digital art displays of what the oceans looked like in ancient times and enjoy seeing what the aquarium’s sea life looks like at night.
At the Fukuoka Municipal Zoo and Botanical Garden’s annual “Summer Night Zoo and Botanical Garden” event, you can catch a glimpse of the zoo’s nocturnal residents and see flowers that only bloom at night. The premises are also lit up to create a mystical atmosphere. Last year, the Fukuoka City Museum offered a night museum tour which proved quite popular, so this year it has extended its summer hours. If you want to cool down, the paintings of ghosts and ghouls might just give you the chill you need.
The Fukuoka City Science Museum, which opened last fall, is also operating on extended hours this summer. Even adults will enjoy the planetarium at nighttime, which is running a healing aromatherapy program. You can also enjoy a show about the nighttime sky set to the tune of popular music. Or if you want to learn a little bit more about the cosmos, try joining one of the regular rooftop sky viewings, which are offered free of charge year-round.
*Please contact each facility for details about nighttime events and hours of operation.
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn236, Aug. 2018)
