- Q1 Do we need to pay an admission fee?
- Admission is free.
- Q2 When is the Solar Ark open?
- Contact the Solar Energy Museum for more information.
Tel. 0584-64-7050 (direct dial)
- Q3 When is the Solar Ark closed?
- Contact the Solar Energy Museum for more information.
Tel. 0584-64-7050 (direct dial)
- Q4 Can I come by myself?
- Starting on July 1, 2009, access will only be offered to groups of students from the elementary school to university level.
We apologize for any inconvenience this many cause.
- Q5 How big can our group be before we have to make a reservation?
-
The Solar Ark visitor program has changed.
For details, contact us using the information below.Group Tours
A group of a least 10 people is necessary to reserve a tour. Please phone to make a reservation.
A confirmation of your reservation will be sent by fax or post at a later date. The maximum tour size is 80 people.Reservations
Solar Energy Museum: Tel. 0584-64-7050 (direct dial)
Reservation Hours: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday
- Q6 Is there a parking area?
- There is a free parking area, large enough even for sightseeing buses.
- Q7 Is there somewhere we can use as a meeting place for our group?
- There are two tour halls, which can hold 140 people in total and which can be used as meeting places. Ark Hall 1 has space for 60 people and Ark Hall 2 holds 80.
- Q8 Can we dine there?
- No, but if you are on a school field trip and brought your lunch, you can eat it in the tour hall. In such cases, a reservation is necessary.
- Q9 Is there a rest area?
- We do not have a special space for relaxation but some sofas and benches everywhere in this facility. In addition, we have a vending machine for soft drink in Ark Hall.
- Q10 Is there anywhere to dispose of rubbish?
- No, please take your rubbish away with you.
- Q11 Can I enter with a wheelchair?
- Barrier-free facilities and equipment are available in the Solar Lab and in the Field Lab. Inclined paths, rental wheelchairs and wheelchair-compatible restrooms are all provided. Disabled parking is also provided, as is equipment to facilitate interaction with exhibits.
- Q12 Can we take a guided tour?
- We offer guided tours for groups. On the group tour, you receive a brief, 15-minute explanation of the Solar Ark, followed by a tour of the Solar Lab which takes more than 30 minutes. A tour takes approximately one hour altogether.
- Q13 Where are the main points of interest?
- What's most impressive about the Solar Ark is that it is one of the world's biggest solar energy generation systems, and was designed by imagining a giant ark. It boasts a length of 315 meters, and a height of 37 meters. It is installed with 5,046 solar battery panels, giving it a maximum generation capacity of 630 kW equivalent to the annual power consumption of 200 homes.
- Q14 What can we learn?
- The Solar Lab is a hands-on learning facility designed to foster children's interest in science and environmental issues in general.
