Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan)

The Heiseikan, built to commemorate the crown prince's wedding in 1993, serves primarily as the space for special exhibitions. For this purpose there are four special exhibition galleries on the second floor, as well as the Japanese Archaeological Gallery.

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)

The Beginning of Tool Making in the Paleolithic Era

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

March 4, 2025 (Tue) -
September 7, 2025 (Sun)
Permanent Settlements and the Creation of Pottery

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

March 4, 2025 (Tue) -
September 7, 2025 (Sun)
Interaction with the Asian Continent and the Pottery of an Agricultural Society

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

March 4, 2025 (Tue) -
September 7, 2025 (Sun)
Political Maturation and the Creation of Symbols of Authority

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

November 6, 2024 (Wed) -
May 6, 2025 (Tue)
The Yamato Kingdom and the Production of Symbols of Authority

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

November 6, 2024 (Wed) -
May 6, 2025 (Tue)
Large Burial Mounds and the Increase in Metal Production

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

November 6, 2024 (Wed) -
May 6, 2025 (Tue)
The Rise of Provincial Clans and the Development of a Unique Culture

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

November 6, 2024 (Wed) -
May 6, 2025 (Tue)
Late Burial Mounds and Influence from the Asian Continent

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

November 6, 2024 (Wed) -
May 6, 2025 (Tue)
The Beginnings of a State under the Ritsuryo System

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

March 11, 2025 (Tue) -
September 7, 2025 (Sun)
Mountain Worship and the Belief in the Decline of Buddhism

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

March 11, 2025 (Tue) -
September 7, 2025 (Sun)
Life and Death in the Kamakura Period

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

March 11, 2025 (Tue) -
September 7, 2025 (Sun)
Objects Excavated from Edo

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

March 11, 2025 (Tue) -
September 7, 2025 (Sun)

Gravers
Excavated from Araya site, Nagaoka-shi, Niigata, Paleolithic period, 16000 BC (Gift of Mr. Hoshino Ryo)

The Beginning of Tool Making in the Paleolithic Era

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)
Japanese Archaeology Gallery

March 4, 2025 (Tue) - September 7, 2025 (Sun)

People first settled in Japan about 40,000 years ago, marking the beginning of the Paleolithic era, which continued until pottery was first created approximately 13,000 years ago. This era coincided with an ice age during which Japan was still connected to the Asian continent via land bridges and inhabited by large mammals such as mammoths. People led nomadic lives and made tools from stone and animal bone, using them to hunt and forage.

This section explores how Paleolithic tools changed over time through common examples: trapezoids with cutting edges, knives, spearheads, and miniature blades for making composite tools such as harpoons. Generally, Paleolithic tools were made by chipping stone into the desired shapes, while polished stone tools first appeared in the following Neolithic era. Japan’s Paleolithic era, however, is characterized by the use of stone axe heads with partially-polished blades.

The most common material for tools was obsidian, a type of volcanic glass found in abundance across most of Japan. The sedimentary rock siliceous shale was used in northeastern Japan, where obsidian was scarce, while the volcanic rock sanukite was used in the Kinki region and around the Seto Inland Sea. All of these materials were suitable for making tools because they were relatively hard and fine-grained, allowing sharp edges to be formed by chipping.

Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan)

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Chronological Exhibition)

The Beginning of Tool Making in the Paleolithic Era

Permanent Settlements and the Creation of Pottery

Interaction with the Asian Continent and the Pottery of an Agricultural Society

Political Maturation and the Creation of Symbols of Authority

The Yamato Kingdom and the Production of Symbols of Authority

Large Burial Mounds and the Increase in Metal Production

The Rise of Provincial Clans and the Development of a Unique Culture

Late Burial Mounds and Influence from the Asian Continent

The Beginnings of a State under the Ritsuryo System

Mountain Worship and the Belief in the Decline of Buddhism

Life and Death in the Kamakura Period

Objects Excavated from Edo

1st floor: Japanese Archaeology (Thematic Exhibitions)

Important Cultural Property Tomb Sculpture (Haniwa): Dressed-Up Woman

Dogū: Objects of Prayer in the Jomon Period

Objects of Prayer and Accessories in the Jomon Period

Daily Tools of the Jomon Period

Daily Tools of the Yayoi Period

Accessories and Tools of the Yayoi Period Used in Rituals

Bronze Ritual Implements of the Yayoi Period

The Post-Jomon Culture in Hokkaido

The Development of Sue Pottery

Ancient Chinese Mirrors from Japanese Kofun Burial Mounds

Miniature Stone Models Unearthed from Burial Mounds

Before the Time of Suō Provincial Government Office: Hōfu City during the Kofun Period

Copying from Chinese Mirrors: Bronze Mirrors with TLV Patterns

Development of the Production of Beads and Jade Objects

Umanoyama Tumulus No. 4: A Case of Keyhole-Shaped Tombs’s Regional Development

Spiritual Power of Comma-Shaped Beads in Unique Forms

Silver Inlay Decoration for Ancient Swords

The Niizawa Senzuka Tombs and Exchange with the Asian Continent

Ancient Swords with Inscriptions and the Society of the Kofun Period

The Eta Funayama Burial Mound and the Advanced Culture of Provincial Clans

Development of Figural Haniwa Tomb Figurines

Tomb Sculptures (Haniwa) and Funerary Rites

Ancient Coins

Ancient Japanese Tomb Epitaphs

Belts Worn by Court Officials

Sacred Objects from Ancient Temples

Sutra Mounds: Time Capsules for 5,670,000,000 Years

Sutra Mounds: Stones with Sutra Text Buried in Prayer

Buddhist Scriptures Buried in Sutra Mounds: Clay Tablets, Stones, and Bronze Plates with Sutra Inscriptions

Excavated Gold Coins from the Edo Period (1603–1868)

Objects Unearthed from the Ueno Area

Important Cultural Property
Tomb Sculpture (Haniwa): Dressed-Up Woman