Special Exhibition: Mass Extinctions — BIG FIVE 2026

Dates & time: July 17, 2026 (Fri) - October 12, 2026 (Mon) 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Opens at 9:00 from Aug 8–16. Closed Mondays (open on public holidays, closed the next weekday; open Aug 3 and Aug 10)
Price & booking: Adults 2,000 yen on the day (1,800 advance/group); high school & university students 1,500 (1,300); elementary & junior high 700 (500); preschoolers free. Free for disability certificate holders plus one carer (proof required). Group rate applies from 20 people Advance tickets ran May 12 – Jul 16, 2026; same-day tickets from Jul 17. Sold via Asoview, Lawson Ticket, Seven Ticket, Ticket Pia, e+, ART PASS, etix and the Bijutsuten Navi ticket app, plus the museum shop. No cancellations, refunds or ticket-type changes.
Venue & access: Nature Hall, Osaka Museum of Natural History (2F, Nature Study Center, Nagai Park) About 800 m east of Exit 3 (south ticket gate) at Nagai Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line. By car, use the Nagai Park underground parking on the south side of the park.

There are 1 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Nature Hall, Osaka Museum of Natural History (2F, Nature Study Center, Nagai Park), and 2 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

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Why You Should Visit

A special exhibition tracing the five great mass extinctions of Earth's history — the "Big Five" — through the evidence left in fossils and rock. Already shown in Tokyo and Nagoya, the exhibition leans on immersive displays: the spherical-screen "Mass Extinction Sphere" and a model that lets you feel volcanic activity. Highlights include the world premiere of a roughly 6-metre complete Steller's sea cow fossil and specimens shown in Japan for the first time from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Easily a half-day in Nagai Park, for dinosaur-loving kids and adults alike.

NOTE

Highlights

"Mass Extinction Sphere": film shown on a spherical screen
A model that lets you feel volcanic activity
World premiere of a complete Steller's sea cow fossil (approx. 6 m)
Specimens from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, shown in Japan for the first time
Special navigator Masaharu Fukuyama (exhibition narration, audio guide, and a special photography display titled "Voices of Life, Songs of the Earth")

Audio guide

On-site rental 650 yen
App version "Kiku Bijutsu" 800 yen (available Jul 17 – Oct 12)

Talks — museum lecture hall, first 170 people, free; permanent-exhibition admission required to attend in person

Jul 19 (Sun) 13:30–15:00 "Why a mass extinction exhibition now?" by Atsushi Yabe (National Museum of Nature and Science). Streamed live on YouTube with archive until Oct 12

Sep 20 (Sun) 13:30–15:00 "Reading Earth's history through mass extinctions" by Tomoyuki Mikami (National Museum of Nature and Science). Live stream only

Shop

Official catalogue 2,800 yen
Ticket with puzzle sheet (regular price + 500 yen)

*The T. rex plush ticket, pair advance ticket and catalogue free-pass are sold out

Culture Art Family Rainy Day Cool Summer Limited Time

出典: 特別展「大絶滅展―生命史のビッグファイブ」公式サイト

Kobe · Gluten-free

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FAQ

When is it closed?

Closed Mondays. When a Monday is a public holiday it opens and closes the next weekday instead. Mondays August 3 and 10 are open.

Is it good for kids?

Yes — the spherical-screen film and the volcanic activity model land without much reading. Elementary and junior high students pay 700 yen on the day, preschoolers are free.

Can I buy tickets at the venue?

Same-day tickets are on sale during the run, and you can also buy through ticket agencies (Asoview, Lawson Ticket, Ticket Pia and others) or at the museum shop.

Is there an audio guide?

Yes, navigated by Masaharu Fukuyama. On-site rental is 650 yen and the app version "Kiku Bijutsu" is 800 yen.