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Efforts of the Tokyo National Museum 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Aiming to create a museum that is accessible to and enjoyed by all

Tokyo National Museum Honkan

The Tokyo National Museum ("TNM") has long been improving its environment by producing barrier-free maps, implementing the "School Program for the visually-impaired," guiding visitors through the museum using tactile maps, producing tactile tools, and delivering information for the hearing impaired using voice recognition applications and hearing loops at lectures and other events. The Barrier-Free Team of TNM's Lifelong Learning Volunteers has also conducted school programs for students of schools for the visually-impaired.

The 26th International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Prague in 2022 adopted a new museum definition, adding the sentence "Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability.” The new definition requires museums to create an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to diverse audiences. In addition to the museum's previous barrier-free efforts, a sensory map presenting light and sound sensory information, such as lighting levels and ambient sounds, will be available on the Tokyo National Museum website from 2023, so that people who have difficulty in daily life due to hyperesthesia, including sight, hearing, smell, and taste, can feel at ease and comfortable when they visit the museum. This is already a common practice in the U.K. and other countries, but there are few examples in Japan. We interviewed Ms. Midori Suzuki, Supervisor of Education Division, Curatorial Planning Dept, TNM, about the production and publication of the Sensory Map to make TNM "a museum that is accessible to and enjoyed by all”.

Tokyo National Museum Honkan

Considering creating the sensory map as a project for the 150th anniversary

To mark the 150th anniversary of the museum's founding, each department held discussions and came up with specific ideas for what they would aim to achieve based on the concept of "a museum for everyone to enjoy”. Some of our staff members who had seen how to serve people with hyperesthesia while studying in the U.K., our department made a proposal for the production of a sensory map. In the U.K., many museums provide sensory maps, and cinemas and supermarkets are taking steps to provide safe access for people with hyperesthesia, such as offering sensory friendly hours. Our proposal to produce the sensory map was accepted.

Consultation at the Symposium for the Promotion of Accessible Tourism provided a clue.

Sensory map production started in December 2021, but we couldn’t determine the specific targets and research methods for the map at the stage of researching precedents and considering the direction of the project. That was due to the lack of examples and production standards in Japan. The first clue to this was at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Accessible Tourism Promotion Symposium in January 2022, when our staff began consulting with the online consultation service. When we asked about how we should support people with hyperesthesia from the perspective of accessible tourism, a universal tourism expert advised us that the desired accommodations vary from person to person and should not be considered uniformly. We also learned that some people are hesitant to go out or go on sightseeing tours because of the stimulation caused by bright lights and loud noises, and that getting information in advance about the types, levels, and locations of such stimuli can help them go out with peace of mind. We were also able to conduct a total of four museum interior surveys during July and August, having received introductions to hyperesthesia organizations and individuals with hyperesthesia who were willing to participate. Those who cooperated in the survey had sensory characteristics and developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder. Furthermore, they were interested in facilities such as the museum and were able to verbally express their feelings. The survey was conducted on different days by people with different characteristics concerning light and sound levels, which revealed that different people felt and experienced the same place in different ways, and we obtained a variety of survey results.

Subjective surveys by the people concerned and scientific corroboration through objective surveys

The survey method was that the people concerned were accompanied by a staff member who took notes on how they felt about each of the exhibition rooms, in categories of "light," "sound," "crowding," and "rest areas.” This survey of the people concerned raised many points which we had not noticed before. For example, some people feel that their ears are blocked when they are in corner rooms, and some of the places that are offered as rest areas are actually not suitable for the purpose due to intense stimulation from light, sound, crowds, etc. We also understood that different people have different troubling stimuli and difficulties. The following is a summary of the perspectives we identified as needing to be reflected in the sensory map after a museum interior survey by the people concerned. (1) Not only indicating stimulating places, but also showing how to spend time comfortably (2) Devising a notation method that takes into account differences in the way people feel, and listing only the characteristics of the place and objective facts (3) Displaying the map not only inside the museum but also outside (4) Providing text-based information for those who have difficulty reading and understanding maps (5) Explaining the cause of each stimulus, etc., since content is more persuasive when presented in terms of characteristics.

After the subjective survey by the people concerned, we conducted an objective survey by measuring light and sound with the cooperation of the Meiji University, Architectural Environmental Planning Laboratory (Ueno Laboratory).

This allowed us to corroborate the comments made during the survey by the people concerned. For example, the corner rooms that people commented made their ears feel blocked were found to have a characteristic frequency tone.

Further initiatives to make “a museum for everyone to enjoy”

TNM Guide: Rest areas

Sensory map: Places to sit (outdoor map)

Based on the results of these surveys, we worked through a trial-and-error process for the online screen composition and display, and we released the sensory map to the public in March 2023. Some people pointed out that it was difficult to understand when the sensory map should be used. Many people were not aware of hyperesthesia in the first place and could not understand what kind of map it was without an explanation of what it is for in what situations a sensory map is used. Therefore, we produced an official video entitled "Let's Walk Around TNM Using the Sensory Map" that explains not only the contents of the map, but also its purpose and usage. In addition, the sensory map was linked to the viewing guide application to show how crowded the main rest spots are, and to provide guide information on brightness, noise level, etc., as well as tips on how to tour the museum slowly while taking breaks. In addition, we conducted onsite training for guide volunteers so that they could understand the types of people and situations for which the map should be used, and they learned how to use the sensory map and guide visitors through the museum while referring to it. Thus, we are also working on spreading understanding of hyperesthesia and promoting sensory maps.

The museum's sensory map was created with the help of people with autism spectrum disorders with sensory characteristics, but a sensory map is not the solution for everything. There are other things we can do for people with hyperesthesia. Since different individuals require different accommodations depending on their characteristics, such as calming down spaces, earmuffs for soundproofing, mood-calming toys, etc., we also incorporate tools other than the sensory map and initiatives such as Quiet Hour to create a museum environment that everyone can feel comfortable in and that everyone can enjoy. We will continue to do so.

TNM Guide: Rest areas

Sensory map: Places to sit (outdoor map)

Sensory map: Sound information
(Honkan, 1F)

Light information (Honkan, 1F)

Places to sit (Honkan, 1F)

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