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Extinct Media Museum in Tokyo showcases obsolete technology for hands-on interaction
Key points
- Museum collects and exhibits obsolete media and equipment.
- Visitors can physically handle all items in the collection.
- Collection includes 4,000 items, with 3,000 on permanent display.
- Offers a "Library of the lost catalog" with 3,000 product catalogs.
About the Extinct Media Museum
The Extinct Media Museum in Tokyo, Japan, is a private museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting media and media equipment that are no longer in use or are becoming obsolete. The museum operates on the principle that all media, except paper and stone, will eventually become extinct.
Interactive Exhibits and Collection
The museum functions as a "touch museum," allowing visitors to freely handle all items in the collection. This hands-on approach enables detailed observation of product structures and tactile experience of materials. The collection encompasses video cameras, photo cameras, typewriters, personal computers, recording media, music players, cell phones, PDAs, and mobile terminals with keyboards.
A significant portion of the collection, 80%, has been donated. As of December 2025, the museum holds 4,000 items, with 3,000 on permanent display. The museum particularly emphasizes home-use motion picture cameras, illustrating the evolution from 8mm film cameras to various video and memory cameras.
Documentation and Research Resources
Visitors are permitted to photograph, record video, and scan 3D images of the collection after paying an admission fee, with visits limited to two hours. The museum's goal is to have its collection documented globally through visitor photos and media coverage, ensuring its digital preservation.
The museum also offers a "Library of the lost catalog" in its basement, providing access to 3,000 product catalogs from the 1960s to the 2020s. This library is a "ScanSnapSpot," where visitors can use an SV600 scanner to digitize catalogs for research purposes. Additionally, 90% of the collection is accessible online as a web museum.
Rental Services and Merchandise
Exhibits can be rented individually on a weekly basis for use as props in movies, music videos, TV programs, and independent films. The museum store sells original merchandise, including postcards, stickers, and key chains.
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Reporting from
The Extinct Media Museum in Tokyo, Japan, is a private institution that collects and exhibits obsolete media and equipment, allowing visitors to physically interact with the items. The museum aims to preserve the history of evolving technology and encourages documentation through photography and scanning.