Saga Prefectural Space Science Museum

What Saga Prefectural Space Science Museum does

Saga Prefectural Space Science Museum (佐賀県立宇宙科学館), branded as "Yumeginga," is a public science museum operated by the Saga Prefectural Government since 1999, located at the Takeo Onsen Recreation Village in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, Japan. The museum centers on three permanent exhibition zones — Space Discovery (renewed March 2024), Earth Discovery, and Saga Discovery — alongside a dome-type planetarium with live narration programs and an observatory equipped with multiple telescopes for daytime solar observation and nighttime stargazing. Its defining educational program, JAXAGA SCHOOL, delivers tiered space-science curricula for elementary, middle, and high school students under a partnership with JAXA, with five Saga high schools having collaborated to develop the SaganSat0 CubeSat, which was launched to the ISS in August 2024 and deployed into orbit.

The museum operates on a multi-stream earned-revenue model: age-tiered admission fees to permanent and rotating special exhibitions (e.g., the long-running "B-Coro" marble-run and "Magnet" science exhibitions), separate planetarium tickets, on-site food and beverage via OND RESTAURANT (reopened April 2025), museum shop sales of original character merchandise, and workshop material fees (¥100–¥3,500 per participant). JAXAGA SCHOOL programs are provided free of charge to participants, while group-visit reservations are handled through a dedicated online form, and satellite school outreach extends programming to schools and public facilities across Saga Prefecture.

Distribution is anchored at the Takeo City physical facility (≈400-vehicle parking across four lots) and supplemented by JAXAGA SCHOOL satellite outreach to schools and community centers across the prefecture. The museum maintains active marketing across an official website (yumeginga.jp), X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, a Saga Shimbun newspaper column, and a Yumeginga Club membership program. Notable strategic partners include JAXA (core), Kyushu Institute of Technology (CubeSat technical support), Sony and NACS-J (Waowa Biodiversity Project), Sagan professional soccer team, and several Saga municipal and fisheries partners. Director Suzuki Akiko has led the institution since April 2023, bringing prior JAXA experience to the role.

Name

Saga Prefectural Space Science Museum

Legal name

Saga Prefectural Space Science Museum

Website

https://yumeginga.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Saga Prefectural Space Science Museum (Yumeginga) is a public prefectural museum in Takeo City, Japan, operating permanent space/Earth/Saga exhibition zones, a planetarium, an observatory, and the JAXAGA SCHOOL student satellite and education program in partnership with JAXA, serving families, school groups, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum & Space Education

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF), Observation Decks & Viewing Platforms (THAJACAA)

Keywords

• Science museum services
• Space education programs
• Planetarium shows
• Astronomy exhibits
• Educational outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Takeo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Admission fees: Visitors pay admission fees for access to permanent exhibitions and special exhibitions. Planetarium shows require a separate ticket. Pricing tiers exist for adults, high school students, elementary/middle school students, preschoolers age 4+, disability pass holders, caregivers, and educators on official business.
2. Museum Shop: On-site museum shop sells science-related merchandise, original character goods (ゆめぎんが★ウーたん), and educational toys.
3. Restaurant / Café: OND RESTAURANT (オンド レストラン) operates on-site, reopened in April 2025, serving food and beverages to visitors. Lunch reservations and group dining packages are available.
4. JAXAGA SCHOOL educational programs: JAXAGA SCHOOL runs courses for elementary school (lower/upper grades) and middle school students, as well as a CubeSat development program for high school students. Programs are provided free of charge to participants; some outreach activities may involve material fees.
5. Workshop and event fees: Various workshops (lens polishing, robot kits, magnet crafts, etc.) and events (planetarium concerts, tea ceremonies, etc.) charge material fees ranging from 100–3,500 yen per participant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

A public prefectural science museum offering three permanent exhibition zones (Space Discovery, Earth Discovery, Saga Discovery), a full-dome planetarium, and an astronomical observatory. It runs the JAXAGA SCHOOL space education program for elementary through high school students in partnership with JAXA, and hosts a CubeSat development lab where high school students built and launched SaganSat0. Auxiliary offerings include a museum shop, on-site restaurant (OND RESTAURANT), rotating special exhibitions, workshops, and satellite school outreach across Saga Prefecture.

Product overview

Saga Prefectural Space Science Museum (ゆめぎんが) operates as a comprehensive science museum centered on space and astronomy education, featuring three permanent exhibition zones (Space Discovery, Earth Discovery, Saga Discovery), a full-dome planetarium, and an observatory. The institution runs JAXAGA SCHOOL, a tiered space education program for elementary through high school students, and hosts a CubeSat development lab where high school students built and launched SaganSat0. Rotating special exhibitions include the popular 'ビーコロ' marble-run contraption series and science-themed exhibitions. Additional offerings include a library, museum shop, and on-site restaurant (OND RESTAURANT).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JAXAGA SCHOOL: A space education program for elementary, junior high, and high school students run by the museum in partnership with JAXA, covering topics from space science to local industry connections.

Products and services

• Permanent Exhibitions (常設展示) Three permanent exhibition zones covering space, Earth, and Saga local natural history with interactive science and astronomy exhibits; accessible to visitors of all ages.
• Planetarium (プラネタリウム) Full-dome planetarium hosting daily shows with live narration of the night sky, themed programs, and seasonal/collaborative programming.
• Observatory (天文台) Astronomical observatory equipped with multiple telescopes offering daytime solar observation and nighttime stargazing sessions on Saturday evenings and clear-weather days.
• JAXAGA SCHOOL Tiered space education program for elementary (lower and upper grades), junior high, and high school students, running monthly from July to February with expert lectures, hands-on experiments, and group activities; includes satellite school outreach.
• SaganSat0 CubeSat Development Program High school student-led CubeSat (ultra-small artificial satellite) development program where five Saga high schools collaborated to design, build, and operate SaganSat0, a 10cm CubeSat with three missions (360° imaging, infrared climate monitoring, cosmic gamma-ray sound collection).
• Special Exhibitions (企画展・特別展) Rotating special exhibitions including the long-running B-Coro marble run contraption series, Magnet science exhibitions, and seasonal themed displays such as summer U-tan Games exhibitions.
• MOON DIVE VR Experience Virtual reality experience simulating lunar surface exploration, available to museum visitors.
• Museum Shop (博物館ショップ) On-site retail shop selling space-themed merchandise, science-related goods, original Yumeginga character goods (U-tan), books, educational toys, and souvenirs.
• OND RESTAURANT On-site restaurant serving food and beverages to museum visitors; lunch reservations and group dining packages are available.
• Library (図書室) Specialized science library offering books, magazines, field guides, and science picture books, including curated staff recommendations.
• Satellite School Outreach (宇宙教育アウトリーチ) JAXAGA SCHOOL outreach programs that bring space education courses to schools and public facilities across Saga Prefecture, including hands-on activities like solar system models, balloon rockets, and astronaut training simulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600万人 (6 million cumulative visitors as of October 2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sony Corporation (ソニー株式会社)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 June 2026Sony co-founded the Waowa Biodiversity Project (わぉ！わぉ！生物多様性プロジェクト) with environmental NGO NACS-J. The museum hosts the わぉ！な生きものフォトコンテスト photo exhibition as part of this initiative, bringing Sony's environmental branding activity to the museum's audience.
• NACS-J (日本自然保護協会)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 June 2026The Japanese Nature Conservation Society collaborates with Sony on the Waowa Biodiversity Project. The museum participates by hosting the photo exhibition, aligning its environmental education mission with the NGO's conservation advocacy.
• Saga Prefectural Institute of Industrial Technology (佐賀県立産業技術学院)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2026The institute's students contributed to the B-Coro Game Exhibition as part of the 2026 spring special exhibition, combining technical education with museum programming.
• Miyaki Town (みやき町)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2025The museum collaborated with Miyaki Town to hold a Space Food Experience workshop at the town's community center, extending the museum's educational reach beyond Takeo City to neighboring municipalities.
• National Institute of Polar Research / 国立極地研究所minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2025The museum co-hosts live online sessions connecting visitors with Japan's Antarctic research station (昭和基地). Part of a national network of 4-5 science museums/museums linking with Antarctica, coordinated by the institute.
• Saga Prefecture Ariake Fisheries Cooperative (佐賀県有明海漁協大詫間支所)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2025The fisheries cooperative participates in the museum's Water Festival (水フェスタ) events, providing educational presentations on nori aquaculture in the Ariake Sea, hands-on demonstrations, and live specimens for touch pool activities.
• Saga Prefecture Ariake Marine Products Research Center (佐賀県有明水产振興センター)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2025The research center collaborates with the museum on educational events about Ariake Sea marine life, providing expert knowledge and specimens for museum workshops and exhibitions.
• Sagan Dreams (株)サガン・ドリームス)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 March 2025The museum partnered with Sagan professional soccer team for JAXAGAN SCHOOL special classes at Sagan's stadium, combining sports science with space education. Sagan's former player 高橋義希 served as a special instructor for the Sports and Science class.
• JAXA (宇宙航空研究開発機構)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2024JAXA has been a central partner in the museum's educational mission since before the museum's founding. JAXA's President山川宏 attended the 25th anniversary ceremony in March 2024. The museum and JAXA signed a renewal of their cooperation agreement in March 2024. JAXA provides content, expertise, astronaut interactions (大西卓哉 and 金井宣茂 serve as JAXAGA SCHOOL honorary principals), and access to facilities for the space education program.
• Kyushu Institute of Technology (九州工業大学)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2021Professor Kitamura Kentaro and Professor Cho Mengu from Kyushu Institute of Technology provided technical support for the SaganSat0 CubeSat development. The university offered cleanroom facilities for assembly and testing. Professor Cho's laboratory continues to serve as a technical resource for the JAXAGA SCHOOL high school program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sapporo Science Center: Regional science center in Hokkaido featuring planetarium, interactive science exhibits, and STEM educational programming for school groups. Comparable as a public science museum serving a regional Japanese population with planetarium and hands-on educational mission.
• Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation): Japan's flagship national science museum in Tokyo operated with JAXA/JST involvement, featuring interactive science exhibits, planetarium, and robotics displays. Directly comparable as a space/technology-focused science museum with strong JAXA ties and educational programming for children.
• Osaka Science Museum: One of Japan's largest science museums featuring a major planetarium (one of the world's largest), space and astronomy exhibits, and hands-on science floors. Comparable in core offering of space/astronomy exhibits paired with a planetarium serving a regional audience.
• Gifu City Science Museum: Regional Japanese science museum featuring planetarium, observatory, and science exhibits with strong focus on space and earth science. Comparable as a prefectural/city-level science museum offering permanent exhibits, planetarium, and educational programming for school groups and families.

Broad incumbents

• National Museum of Nature and Science (Tokyo): Japan's premier national science museum featuring global natural history, science, and technology collections including space exhibits. Comparable as a major museum covering earth science, space, and natural history, though it operates at significantly larger scale with broader scope.
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Global flagship aviation and space museum with extensive space artifact collection and educational programming. Comparable as a space-focused science museum with planetarium/observatory functions and educational mission, though operating at dramatically larger scale.

Regional players

• Fukuoka City Science Museum: Science museum located in Fukuoka City serving the broader Kyushu region with planetarium and science exhibits. Comparable as a regional Japanese science museum offering space and earth science programming, though it sits in a larger urban market than Saga.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/saga_space
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu3Ob5tbxKLQ4TkEFGEcBRw
• Facebookfacebook.com/yumeginga
• Instagraminstagram.com/saga_yumeginga/?hl=ja
• TikToktiktok.com/@saga_yumeginga

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Saga Prefectural Space Science Museum