The TKSC offers guided facility tours to look around part of Japan's largest aerospace development facilities. We have three tour courses: the astronaut course, the space station course, and the launch vehicle course.
The tours are free of charge.
We will introduce separate facility tour systems for "individual visits" and "group tours". The former is for those visitors who do not intend to use a chartered bus, and the latter is for a group of 10 or more people who charter a bus or some other means of transport to look around the facility. We will prepare different tour time schedules and courses for each category.
Tours
| Course | Tour Length | Number of Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Astronaut Course | 1hr 20 min | 1 - 80 max. |
| Space Station Course | 1hr 20 min | 1 - 40 max. |
| Launch Vehicle Course | 1hr 20 min | 1 - 80 max. |
Tour Course
Basic course
1. TKSC introductory video
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Before going out on the tour, the video gives you an outline of the center. It will introduce the actual operations at the TKSC, while JAXA employees in charge of each field explain their work. |
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2. Exhibition Hall "Space Dome"
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Visitors are guided to the Exhibition Hall with explanations. After an introduction about JAXA and the TKSC, they take a look at 1/20th models of launch vehicles from the N-I Launch Vehicle to the latest model, H-IIB Launch Vehicle, and a real-size satellite. They can enter a mockup of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" of the International Space Station (ISS) to look around its inside. |
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Optional course
Astronaut Course
Astronaut Training Area
We will take you to the facility for astronaut basic training.
Space Station Course
Tour to the Kibo's operation and control room
Launch Vehicle Course
Launch vehicle acoustic experience
You will experience the simulated explosive sound of a rocket launch.
Kibo Control Room
In the Kibo Control room, JAXA monitors the equipment and experiment devices on the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo," sends control commands, communicates with astronauts, corresponds with the control centers of other countries’ organizations who are participating in the ISS project such as NASA, and copes with any anomalies.
The operation at the Control room is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is carried out by over 50 operators in three shifts led by the flight director as the general commander.
Individual Visits
To those who do not use a chartered bus (For group tours on a chartered bus, please refer to the "Group tour" section below.)
- The tour course varies depending on the day of the week and time.
- You will be joined by other visitors.
- Each tour serves up to 40 people.
- If your party consists of more than 10 people, please submit a list of participants in advance. For more details, please contact the Tour Desk.
- One person can only join one tour a day.
- For the contents of the tour, please click here.
For reservations, inquires
Tour courses
Weekdays
(Closed on Mondays, New Year holidays (Dec. 29 thru Jan3), and some designated days for events and facility inspections. Mondays are open during the summer vacation season and other special cases.)
| Time | Course |
|---|---|
| 11:00 a.m. | Astronaut course |
| 3:00 p.m. | AISS course |
- You will take a JAXA bus to tour around the TKSC.
- A tour guide will be on the bus during the tour.
Weekends and holidays
(Except New Year holidays (Dec. 29 thru Jan3), and some designated days for events and facility inspections.)
| Time | Course |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Rocket course |
| 11:00 a.m. | Rocket course |
| 1:00 p.m. | Rocket course |
| 2:00 p.m. | Rocket course |
| 3:00 p.m. | Rocket course |
- You will tour around the TKSC by walking.
Group Tours
To those who plan to visit the TKSC as a group of over 10 people by a chartered bus or some other similar means, please submit a list of participants after making a reservation. For more details, please contact the Tour Desk.
- A tour course varies depending on the day of the week and time
- For group tours, we can accept only one group in up to four buses per day. Please be aware that the acceptable number of buses varies depending on the tour course.
- For the contents of a tour, please click here.
For reservations, inquires
Tour courses
Weekdays
(Closed on Mondays, New Year holidays (Dec. 29 thru Jan3), and some designated days for events and facility inspections. Mondays are open during the summer vacation season and other special cases.)
| Time | Course | Acceptable bus numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Astronaut course | Up to two buses |
| 11:00 a.m. | Astronaut course | One bus only |
| 1:00 p.m. | Astronaut course | Up to two buses |
| 2:00 p.m. | Astronaut course or ISS course (*1) | Two buses/One bus |
| 3:00 p.m. | Astronaut course | One bus only |
- You will tour around the TKSC by your chartered bus.
- A tour guide will be on your bus.
- We expect up to 40 people on one bus. Please be aware that some facilities may be crowded and difficult to look around with more than 40 participants.
| *1 | You can choose one of the courses, but the ISS course can serve only one bus with a limit on the number of participants at 40. |
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Weekends and holidays
(Except New Year holidays (Dec. 29 thru Jan3), and some designated days for events and facility inspections.)
| Time | Course |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Rocket course |
| 11:00 a.m. | Rocket course |
| 1:00 p.m. | Rocket course |
| 2:00 p.m. | Rocket course |
| 3:00 p.m. | Rocket course |
- You will tour around the TKSC by walking.
- Your tour may be joined by other visitors.
For reservations, inquires
- The facility tour requires prior reservations on a first-come-first-served basis.
- Please be aware that the tour courses may be changed or the tours may be cancelled as various R&D and test activities are in progress at the Tsukuba Space Center.
- Only those attending the tour can make the reservation.
- We cannot accept reservation requests to attend the tour only when it rains.
- There are some requirements for the participants of the space station course such as presenting your ID to JAXA for confirmation. For more details, please call the above telephone number.
TKSC Tour Desk
| TEL | 029-868-2023 (In Japan or +81-29-868-2023 from overseas) |
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| Open | Open: 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Except New Year holidays (Dec. 29 thru Jan3), and some designated days for events and facility inspections.) |
Important Notice for Tours
- Your cooperation in taking your own trash home with you is very much appreciated.
- Please do not take photos of the exhibitions without permission.
- Please do not inflict any damage to the exhibitions and buildings.
- Smoking is not allowed in the buildings. There are designated smoking areas.
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You cannot eat or drink at the Space Dome and Planet Cube.
- For eating and drinking, please goto E-2 Public relations / Information Building or Cafeteria.
- The cafeteria is available between 11:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m. (Check-in required.)
- You cannot bring your pets with you into the Tsukuba Space Center (except guide dogs such as seeing-eye dogs and hearing-aid dogs.)
- JAXA cannot be held responsible for any accidents at the Tsukuba Space Center.
- A shop offering JAXA goods, souvenirs, stamps and other small gifts is located at Planet Cube.