National Museum of Japanese History: A Journey from Ancient to Modern Times

The National Museum of Japanese History (Rekihaku) is located within Sakura Castle Park in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture. The location itself evokes a sense of history. The exhibits cover Japanese folk history from the time humans first settled in Japan to the present day, divided into six extensive exhibition areas. Numerous accurate replicas are on display, allowing visitors to see items that would normally require visits to various museums across Japan, all in one place. This is one of Rekihaku's main attractions. It feels like experiencing a history textbook in real life. The Jomon period clay figurines are a must-see. It's astonishing to think that these generous and artistic figurines were made in Japan over 6,000 years ago. Despite their different ages, many of these figurines are related to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and child-rearing. The Jomon period exhibits are endlessly fascinating, featuring figurines with different facial features and shapes compared to modern Japanese people. The museum also covers international relations during the Age of Exploration, the Wako pirates, and the introduction of firearms, highlighting how interactions with East Asia and the West often significantly influenced Japanese history. This time, I only had time to visit exhibition rooms 1 to 3. Unfortunately, I had to skip rooms 4 to 6, which cover folk, modern, and contemporary history. Facility Name: National Museum of Japanese History Location: 117 Sakura Ichiba, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Closed: Mondays Hours: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (March to September) 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (October to February) Admission: 600 yen (permanent exhibition) Parking: Available (free)