Historical Records
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Map of the Route from Kanazawa of Kashū Province to Edo of Bushū Province (detail)
Edo period, 1712 (Gift of Mr. Tokugawa Muneyoshi)Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 5
April 21, 2026 (Tue) - June 21, 2026 (Sun)Tokyo National Museum has more than artworks and archeological artifacts. The collection also includes records, which provide valuable insights into history and the cultures of different ethnic groups. This diversity stems from the Museum’s origins as a comprehensive institution in 1872. It was even home to animal, plant, and mineral specimens, although these were moved to the National Museum of Nature and Science in 1925.
The extensive collection of historical records at Tokyo National Museum now includes maps, diagrams, texts, photographs, ink rubbings, and copies of artworks. These items, dating mainly from the 17th to 20th century, shed light on politics, society, culture, transportation, and scenery in Japan. Here we display a selection of these items under different themes throughout the year.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | "Waterfowl, One" from Album of Birds | Compiled by Hotta Masa'atsu (1758–1832) | Copied: Edo period, 18th–19th century | QA-962-1 | |||
| Highlight | Map of the Route from Kanazawa of Kashū Province to Edo of Bushū Province | Edo period, 1712 | Gift of Mr. Tokugawa Muneyoshi, QB-10272 |