Britain’s finest collection of Japanese Edo art and a look at the secrets of ancient Egypt are making the revamped Maidstone Museum a top tourist destination. Kieran Watkins reports.

Why did the ancient Egyptians build the pyramids? How can you spot a piece of priceless Japanese pottery? These aren’t the usual questions you can answer with a visit to Maidstone, but that has changed.

The impressive extension at Maidstone Museum, that took a tidy £4 million and 18 months to complete, is now up and running and drawing in visitors from far and wide.

The new wing is marking a new chapter in the museum’s history, as it houses the Japanese collection, Japan: Land of Power, Craft and Culture.

As well as art from the Japanese Edo period, the extension houses more than 600,000 artifacts and specimens. It is home to Bronze Age artifacts, the dinosaur exhibit, classrooms for children and adult learning groups, a meeting room, shop and a tourist information centre.

The investment in the museum has also led to other improvements, which is where the pharaohs come in, as this summer’s main event is Secret Egypt: Unravelling Truth from Myth.

Set to open Saturday, June 30 this will uncover the mystery of ancient Egypt, with objects including coffins, ceramics, jewellery and mummies all on display. Promising to appeal to the whole family with interactive exhibits, the exhibition features collections from the British Museum and Manchester University Museum and will also include Maidstone Museum’s very own Egyptian collection.

Museum manager Simon Lace said: “It will be bigger and better than anything we’ve had before.”

Before the extension opened, Simon and his team spoke to residents from the area, asking what they wanted from their museum. It showed 28% of people had never even heard of the museum, a report which shocked the staff.

“The aim of the extension is to allow for greater access to the collections, making sure people come back to the museum,” said Simon.

Recent footfall suggests visitor numbers are on the rise, increasing each month since November 2011. In April, there were more than 10,000 visitors to the museum, double the amount of visitors at the same time last year.

So take the chance to find out more about these ancient and fascinating civilisations. You might get more than you bargained for.

What to see at Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery

Dolls.

A display of dolls and toys from the museum’s own collection. The toys in the Dressing Rooms Costume Gallery are bound to take you back to your childhood.

Japan: Land of Power, Craft and Culture

From Samarui armour to rare porcelain, the exhibition houses more than 600 artefacts from various collectors. This is a permanent exhibition. Admission free.

Secret Egypt: Unravelling Truth from Myth.

Touring exhibition from the Herbert Museum in Coventry, featuring Egyptian collections and hands-on activities, with the museum’s own Egyptian collection also on display. Starts Saturday, June 30 to Monday, September 3. Families £6.

There are also various one-day events during the summer holidays, running from July through to August. Details on 01622 602838 or at www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk.