Whether you live with a 4-year-old expert in dinosaurs, or were once one yourself, this summer offers some exciting opportunities for further discovery about the giant animals that long ago roamed the Earth. And best of all, they're all right here in Japan.

On July 14, the National Museum of Nature and Science (NMNS) in Tokyo just re-opened its main dinosaur exhibit, which was closed for almost a year for an extensive renovation. Located on the B1 level of the museum's Global Gallery building, this is a perfect first stop on a summer dino-tour, delivering a high-quality dose of dinosaur in a compact space. In addition to the big names that children want to see, including Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Apatosaurus, there are nicely done educational exhibits with enough English that those who can't read Japanese will be able to follow. And since the renovation, it packs a few surprises you won't want to miss.

"Scientists are constantly making new discoveries about dinosaurs," notes Makoto Manabe, the museum's chief paleontologist. "This is why it's so important that museums update their exhibits to reflect current scientific understanding."