Built for the 1985 World's Fair, the Expo Center is now a science museum aimed at families and school groups. The most distinctive feature is the planetarium dome visible from the central mall — it screens several programs throughout the day and seats 180. Inside the main building, interactive exhibits cover space, earth science, and technology, with enough hands-on stations to keep children occupied for a couple of hours. The outdoor rocket on the plaza is a full-scale model of an H-II launch vehicle.
Located on Tsukuba Center, a short walk from Tsukuba Station. Open Tuesday to Sunday.