More than 500 cameras are displayed along a wall at the Nikon Museum in central Tokyo. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)
As a Stars and Stripes reporter, whenever I need to cover an event, I grab my mirrorless Nikon Z50 and rush out of the office.
Nikon cameras are simply excellent — stylish, sharp and clinical. You’ll never regret owning one.
I often wondered how this camera was made and where it came from. I finally found the answers at the Nikon Museum in Tokyo.
Inside the Nikon Global Headquarters in the city’s Shinagawa ward, the museum is just a 12-minute walk from Oi-machi Station.
Nikon has been in business for 108 years creating not just cameras for the consumer market but advanced precision optics for industry, too. The museum, which holds more than 1,300 items related to the company’s history and technological advances, marks its 10th anniversary on Oct. 17.
A 51-inch synthetic quartz glass ingot is displayed at the Nikon Museum in Tokyo. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)
Once you arrive, the staff warmly welcomes you to a space divided into three sections: industry, consumer and theater.
Industry showcases sophisticated equipment that teaches you that Nikon is not just about cameras.
Starting with a huge 51-inch synthetic quartz glass ingot, which is the symbol of the museum, you’ll find exhibitions of astronomical telescopes, health care products, measurement instruments and more.
There’s also a chance to see how the NEXIC, a measuring system, works.
The exciting part will come once you step into the consumer section — a wall displaying more than 500 cameras and 450 lenses that will pull you into the Nikon universe.
From the Nikon I, released in 1948, to the latest models. Every camera has its color and story.
The museum also provides augmented reality, or AR, content, provided you have a device capable of reading such QR codes. Guided tours of the museum are also available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Make a tour request on the guided tour request form on the museum website at least three days in advance.
More than 450 lenses are displayed at the Nikon Museum in Tokyo. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)
It is amazing to see how Nikon cameras have evolved through the years. Or you can simply enjoy the fun of spotting your own camera among the collection.
You can also learn more about Nikon’s legacy on a 140-inch screen in the theater.
At the end of the tour, there’s a gift shop where you can pick up some cool Nikon souvenirs. I bought coasters featuring the cameras we use in the office as gifts for my colleagues.
The museum is cozy — you could finish the tour in just 10 minutes, but I stayed for over an hour. It’s a must-visit not only for Nikon enthusiasts but for every camera lover.
You’ll find the free Nikon Museum inside Nikon Global Headquarters in Tokyo’s Shinagawa ward. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)
On the QT
Directions: 1-5-20, Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Innovation Center 1F, Nikom Global Headquarters. About a 12-minute walk from Oi-machi Station.
Times: Open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
Cost: Free
Information: www.nikon.com/company/corporate/museum/ or @NIKONMUSEUM on Instagram.
