Objects Excavated from Edo
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Roof Tile
Edo period, 17th - 19th centuryJapanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
April 8, 2026 (Wed) - September 13, 2026 (Sun)Tokugawa Ieyasu became the shogun of Japan in 1603, establishing his government in Edo (present-day Tokyo). Edo then became the political and cultural center of Japan, with 70% of its land occupied by residences for feudal lords and members of the Tokugawa clan. In addition to these residences, temples, shrines, commoners’ homes, and post towns with accommodations for travelers were sectioned into different areas around Edo Castle, while the castle itself served as the shogun’s residence and place of business. Large fires occurred frequently in Edo because of the dense concentration of wooden buildings. After each fire, land was divided and reassigned, sometimes to create open spaces to prevent future fires from spreading. Land reclamation and other projects for coping with a rising population were also undertaken, with Edo developing into one of Asia’s largest cities.
The appearance of Edo has come to light in recent years through excavations. In particular, large-scale excavations have shown where the residences of feudal lords were located and how they were laid out. Moreover, unearthed objects have revealed the luxurious lifestyles these lords enjoyed, made possible in part by a monetary system based on gold, silver, and copper coinage, which led to the increased distribution of goods. In fact, goods from across Japan were brought to Edo for consumption. This section features excavated objects that vividly illustrate the lifestyles of Edo people.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Roof Tile | Found on the Tokyo National Museum grounds, Tokyo | Edo period, 17th–19th century | J-24164 | |||
| Highlight | Round Eave-End Tile with a Plum Blossom Crest | Found in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo | Edo period, 17th century | J-24259 | |||
| Highlight | Votive Offerings (Dharma Wheel) | Found at the site of Edo Castle Keep, Tokyo | Edo period, 17th century | E-14461 | |||
| Highlight | Gold Coin (Ōban) Minted in the Keichō Era | Found in an unknown location | Azuchi-Momoyama–Edo period, 16th–17th century | Gift of Mr. Okawa Isao, E-20086 | |||
| Gold Coin (Koban) Minted in the Keichō Era | Found in Chūō Ward, Tokyo | Edo period, 17th century | J-37082-1 | ||||
| Highlight | Lion-Shaped Incense Burner | By Jōkei (died 1635); White Raku style, Found on the Tokyo National Museum grounds, Tokyo | Edo period, 17th century | J-39224 |