Cosmo Isle Hakui

Cosmo Isle Hakui is a space science museum in Hakui, Ishikawa Prefecture. Its full name is the Space Science Museum Cosmo Isle Hakui. The collection centers on genuine hardware from NASA and the former Soviet space program.

Real Space Hardware on Display

Vostok re-entry capsule, former Soviet Union / Cosmo Isle Hakui

The centerpiece is a Vostok capsule from the former Soviet Union. It actually returned from space, and the scorch marks from re-entry are still visible.

Luna 24 lunar probe / Cosmo Isle Hakui

The Luna 24 lunar probe is a backup unit, built as a spare for the actual spacecraft. There is also a faithful reproduction of the American Mercury spacecraft, and a full-size model of the Apollo Lunar Module measuring about 8 meters.

Space suit (Apollo program) / Cosmo Isle Hakui

A flight suit actually worn by an Apollo 17 astronaut and soil from the Moon are on display as well. If you love space, there is plenty here to get excited about.

Hakui, the UFO Town

A local legend in Hakui tells of a flying object called the sōhachibon that was sighted again and again in the Edo period. The name comes from a Buddhist ritual instrument shaped like a cymbal. That legend is how Hakui came to be known as a UFO town.

Inside the museum, UFO displays sit alongside the space exploration exhibits, and the building also houses the Cosmo Theater, which projects images onto a dome 12 meters across.

Projects with the Monthly Magazine Mu

The museum has often teamed up with Mu, a monthly occult magazine, on special projects. From April 2025 through March 2026, Mu Tabi Mystery Tourism used an audio AR app to guide visitors around six locations in the city, including the museum.

In 2026, Mu's website also featured Cosmo Isle Festival 2026, an event billed as having the magazine's full cooperation.

Enjoying the Museum in English

Most of the exhibits have English labels. An English version of the museum pamphlet is also available on the official website.

Getting There and Opening Information

The museum is about a 10-minute walk from JR Hakui Station. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last entry at 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays, or the following weekday when that Tuesday falls on a public holiday.

The space science exhibition hall and the Cosmo Theater are ticketed separately, at 500 yen each for general admission. Elementary and junior high school students pay 250 yen for the exhibition hall and 300 yen for the theater. A combined ticket is 900 yen, or 450 yen for those students (as of August 2026).