In the two education spaces of the Toyokan, knowledge about Asia is introduced through various educational activities and image media. The concept of the Toyokan exhibitions is a “journey around Asian art.” However, as a long journey is tiring, the education spaces are oases for visitors to take a rest and to learn about or experience aspects of Asian culture.

Journey Information (2F)
Introducing various journeys with images

"The Merchants’ Journey"
In about the 1st century, Egyptian merchants crossed the Erythraean Sea (the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean) and traveled through India in search of Chinese silk, perfume, pepper and other goods. This program introduces the objects that merchants obtained in the areas they visited, as well as details about those areas.

"The Journey of Xuanzang”
This program introduces the major cities from China to India along the route traveled by the seventh-century Chinese monk Xuanzang. Visitors can also view related items in the museum collection as well as photos of the present-day cities.

Fortune-telling in Asia (4F)

Activity area: Fortune-telling in Asia. Recommended for visitors with children.

Mongolian Fortune-telling with Shagai
This type of fortune-telling uses four shagai (ankle bones of sheep or goats). By rolling them like dice, visitors can read their fortunes for the day from the combination of sides facing up.

Dream Fortune-telling in Asia
“If you dream of a large cat, there will be a large harvest” (Egypt); “Dream of eating an apple and your wishes will come true” (Mesopotamia). This activity introduces ten examples of dream fortune-telling from Asian areas.

Lucky Items of Asia
Five lucky items from Asian countries, such as Ganesa (India) and the baku (China), are introduced here. There are embossed stamps of these five items for visitors to use.

Terrace adjacent to the room5 on the 3F, overlooking prized possession is a view spot of the Honkan, Hyokeikan, the tulip tree.

From 2007 until 2012, the TNM & TOPPAN Museum Theater has been jointly managed in the Tokyo National Museum’s Research and Information Center by the museum and Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. However, it will be reopened on the first basement floor of the Toyokan with the introduction of cutting-edge equipment and an enlarged capacity.
In this theater, visitors can appreciate cultural properties in new ways through virtual reality technology. By producing a computer-generated 3D visual space based on digital archives of cultural properties (mostly items in the museum collection), the theater creates novel methods for encountering and enjoying cultural properties.

These include digital images of cultural properties that provide viewers with the impression that the properties are really in front of them.

*This program is available in Japanese only.
*A separate admission is required.

On the first floor of the Toyokan, products are on sale with designs featuring items in the Toyokan collection.
Visitors can find souvenirs here themed around their favorite artworks or artifacts.