What is the Pokémon Fossil Museum?
Pokémon, the beloved creatures of the Pokémon video game series, are full of mystery. Some of them can only be revived from fossil-like states!
The subject of this exhibition is the so-called fossil Pokémon, which are shown as part of a unique paleontological learning experience. Visitors will be able to compare the fossil Pokémon with similar prehistoric life forms found in real-world fossils.
Our “Fossil Professor” and “Excavator Pikachu,” along with real-world experts, will guide you through the exhibition, offering assistance on how to compare the fossils of the two worlds.
You can watch an official video introduction of the exhibition here.（Link to an external site）
Host museums’ information
The exhibition is scheduled to travel museums in Japan！
KUMAMOTO Mifune Dinosaur Museum
March 20, 2024 – June 23, 2024
Venue: KUMAMOTO Mifune Dinosaur Museum
(995-3 Mifune, Mifune-machi, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.(Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.)
Closed on Mondays. (If Monday is national holiday, the Museum will be open on that day and closed following next day.)
It will be temporarily open during spring break and Golden Week.
Gifu Prefectural Museum
July 19, 2024 – October 27, 2024
Venue: Gifu Prefectural Museum
(1989 Oyana, Seki, Gifu Prefecture)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.(Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.)
Closed on Mondays. (If Monday is national holiday, the Museum will be open on that day and closed following next day.)
※For more information, please visit the website of Gifu Prefectural Museum.Hofu Science Museum “Solar”
November 9, 2024 – February 24, 2025
Venue: Hofu Science Museum “Solar”
(6-41 Kotobuki-cho , Hofu-shi, Yamaguchi Prefecture)
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.)
Closed on Mondays. (If Monday is national holiday, the Museum will be open on that day and closed following next day. However, the museum will be open on January 6 (expected date), and be close on January 8)
Year-end/New Year holiday (December 30 to January 3)
We will announce additions of venues once it has been decided!
Past Exhibition
IWATE PREFECTURAL MUSEUM (IWATE)
GUNMA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (GUNMA)
NIIGATA SCIENCE MUSEUM (NIIGATA)
Oita Prefectural Art Museum (Oita)
Toyohashi Museum of Natural History (Aichi)
National Museum of Nature and Science (Tokyo)
The Shimane Nature Museum of Mt. Sanbe (Shimane)
Mikasa City Museum (Hokkaido)
Highlights of the Exhibition
Highlight １
Compare the image of this Pokémon with and that of the prehistoric life form next to it and try to identify the similarities and differences between them!
Highlight ２
Life sized conceptual skeleton models of Fossil Pokémon are featured in this exhibition, which showcases skeleton models, fossils and replicas from our world for easy comparison!
Highlight ３
Compare skeletons of Pokémon with those of real-world prehistoric life forms! How Pokémon skeleton would be like was conceptualized for this exhibition. The images will help you imagine how these creatures must have looked like if they were to be excavated like real-world fossils.
※ Skeleton images of the Fossil Pokémon are only conceptual drawings.
Goods Lineup
stuffed toy “Excavator Pikachu”
Price: 2,310 yen (tax included)
Rubber key chains, 2 types
Price: 858 yen each (tax included)
（ Website / Japanese only)
FAQs
- Where can I see the exhibition?
- The exhibition is set to tour museums in Japan, and we will announce any change or additions of venues here.
- How about the admission fee and booking?
- Admission and booking methods differ depending on the venue. Please check each museum’s website for details.
- Will every museum exhibit the same content?
- No. Different sets of Pokémon and prehistoric life forms will be exhibited at each museum. Every species shown on the key visual may not necessarily be presented as part of the exhibition.
The reverse may also be the case, with the Pokémon that do not appear on the key visual appearing in the exhibition. It is left up to visitors to discover which Pokémon are featured. - Are the accompanying explanations of the exhibit items shown in different languages?
- The information panels are only in Japanese, but you can read them in English, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) and Korean using your smartphone. The system is free to use. No audio guides are available.
- Can I take photos in the exhibition space?
- Photo shooting policies differ depending on the museum. Please check each museum’s website for information.
- Are there any Pokémon Fossil Museum merchandise that I can buy? If so, can I get them online?
- An exhibition catalogue in Japanese and original products (not exclusive to any one of the museums) are available. They cannot be purchased online.
Organizing／Cooperation
Organizing：National Museum of Nature and Science and host museums
Cooperation in planning exhibitions／production of Pokémon exhibitions： The Pokémon Company
General editor：Daisuke Aiba (Formerly of Mikasa City Museum)
Cooperation： Mikasa City Museum, Gunma Museum of Natural History, Toyohashi Museum of Natural History and The Shimane Nature Museum of Mt. Sanbe
Contact Information
Museum Cooperation and Collaborative Exhibition Group
Innovation Center for Nature and Science Museums
National Museum of Nature and Science
Weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Email: junkaiten@kahaku.go.jp