Right across from the Japan National Stadium is the modern Japan Olympic Museum, where you can learn about the fascinating history and philosophy behind the world’s most iconic event. Opened two years ago, the facility features a plethora of immersive and high-tech exhibits that make it far more exciting than your average gallery of memorabilia kept in glass cabinets.
The museum is divided into three parts. On the first floor Welcome Area you’ll find the museum café, gift shop and the Olympic Studies Centre. The real excitement, however, lies on the second floor Exhibition Area: here you can relive key moments from previous Olympics via an immersive audio-visual system, or play interactive games to compare your strength and speed with the abilities of the world’s top athletes.
You can conclude your visit with a peaceful stroll through the outdoor Monument Area and see the three different Olympic cauldrons from previous Games held in Japan. There’s also a statue of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee, regarded as the father of the modern Olympics.