Museum Facilities
The museum includes a variety of exhibition, learning, and visitor facilities.
Exhibition Room 1: Permanent exhibition
Exhibition Room 2: Permanent exhibition
Special Exhibition Room: Temporary and special exhibitions
Seminar Room: Lectures and educational programs
Outdoor Experience Zone: Hands-on excavation and reconstruction experiences involving pit dwellings
Hall: Events and presentations
Salon and Library Corner: A space for reading and learning
Museum Shop: Souvenirs and museum-related items
Main Exhibitions
Exhibition Room 1: “Yayoi Culture Through the Eyes”
Opened in 1991, Exhibition Room 1, “Yayoi Culture Through the Eyes,” introduces Yayoi culture through six major themes, including the beginning of rice cultivation, the development of new technologies, and villages, warfare, and the emergence of states.
Real archaeological artifacts, replicas, and audiovisual displays are used to make the lifestyle of the Yayoi people easier to understand and experience.
Exhibition Room 2: “Ikegami Sone World”
“Ikegami Sone World” focuses on discoveries from the Ikegami Sone archaeological site. Highlights include archaeological artifacts, one of Japan’s largest wooden well frames, and a huge jade magatama bead.
The exhibits help visitors understand the scale and importance of the settlement through the many objects uncovered during archaeological excavations.
Exploring Yayoi Life and Culture
Rice Cultivation and Farming
The section titled “The Beginning of Rice Cultivation” introduces agriculture in the Yayoi period through farming models and actual agricultural tools.
Particularly interesting are the spring and autumn paddy-field models, which recreate the agricultural cycle from preparing the fields in spring to harvesting the rice in autumn.
The Birth of New Technologies
Displays on “The Power of Iron,” “Casting Bronze Bells,” and “Technology in Everyday Life” explore the technological changes that emerged during the Yayoi period.
Visitors can watch an experimental video showing how stone and iron axes were used to cut wood, illustrating the impact of iron tools. A life-size model also recreates the process of weaving textiles.
Villages, Warfare, and the Emergence of States
Under the themes of “Warfare,” “Symbols of Power,” and “Himiko’s Residence,” the museum examines warfare, the development of political power, and the emergence of social divisions.
One of the highlights is a large-scale model centered on the residence of Himiko, the queen associated with the 3rd century Japanese polity of Yamatai. The model also depicts foreign envoys and warriors, helping visitors visualize the society of the period.
International Exchange
The museum introduces the beginnings of international exchange in ancient Japan through a life-size model of a ship and imported objects from the Asian continent.
A replica of the famous King of Na Gold Seal, discovered in Fukuoka Prefecture, is also displayed, providing a glimpse into Japan’s early connections with the Asian continent.
Death and Rituals
Displays of wooden coffins and bronze bells introduce Yayoi beliefs about life and death, as well as religious ceremonies and rituals.
Objects such as bird-shaped wooden artifacts and items believed to symbolize ancestral spirits offer insight into the religious beliefs and ancestor worship of Yayoi communities.
The Yayoi People and Their Appearance
This section features replicas of Yayoi people and human-face-shaped pottery, providing an impression of how people of the period may have looked and expressed their beliefs.
A model of “Kaito,” a Yayoi-period dog, reconstructed from a complete skeleton discovered in Yao City, is also on display.
Symbol Zone
The museum’s Symbol Zone features a recreation of Himiko holding a mirror, surrounded by 20 mirrors.
The display brings together symbolic objects associated with Yayoi culture and provides a striking introduction to the religious and political world of ancient Japan.
Learning About Yayoi Culture
The museum also serves as an educational center dedicated to promoting understanding of Yayoi culture.
Special exhibitions are held in spring and autumn, while archaeological seminars and other educational programs are organized regularly. Permanent displays also include reconstructed buildings and an estimated reconstruction of “Himiko’s Residence,” offering visitors a glimpse into Yayoi daily life and diplomatic relations.
Annual Passes and Museum Concerts
The Osaka Prefectural Yayoi Culture Museum regularly holds the “Yayoi Museum Concert”, combining the museum environment with musical performances.
An annual pass is also available, providing admission to both the Osaka Prefectural Yayoi Culture Museum and the Osaka Prefectural Chikatsu Asuka Museum.
Historic Sites Around the Museum
To the north of the museum is Ikegami Sone Historic Site Park, while the Ikegami Sone Yayoi Learning Center is located farther north.
The Ikegami Sone Archaeological Site
The area surrounding the museum contains the extensive Ikegami Sone Archaeological Site, which covers approximately 600,000 square meters across Izumi and Izumiotsu cities.
Approximately 115,000 square meters of the site has been preserved as a nationally designated historic site. The site was discovered in 1903 by Minami Shigenori, a resident of the Ikegami area. Subsequent archaeological investigations uncovered numerous valuable artifacts and provided important information about Yayoi society.
Archaeological Excavations and Discoveries
Excavations continued after World War II, revealing numerous remains associated with daily life during the Yayoi period, including pit dwellings and wells.
In 1995, archaeologists discovered the remains of a large raised-floor building from the Middle Yayoi period as well as what was described as Japan’s oldest well. These discoveries further demonstrated the importance of the Ikegami Sone site.
Ikegami Sone Historic Site Park and Yayoi Learning Center
The Ikegami Sone site has been developed as a historic park, where large buildings and wells have been reconstructed.
The adjacent Ikegami Sone Yayoi Learning Center provides additional opportunities to learn about Yayoi daily life and culture, allowing visitors to experience the history of the site beyond the museum exhibits.
Discover the World of Yayoi Japan
The Osaka Prefectural Yayoi Culture Museum offers a specialized introduction to the culture of the Yayoi period through archaeological artifacts, detailed reconstructions, models, videos, and hands-on learning experiences.
Combined with a visit to the nearby Ikegami Sone Archaeological Site and its reconstructed buildings, the museum provides a fascinating way to explore ancient Japan and understand how agriculture, technology, trade, religion, and political communities developed during the Yayoi period.
Access
From JR Hanwa Line Shinodayama Station: Approximately 7 minutes on foot.
From Nankai Main Line Matsunohama Station: Approximately 18 minutes on foot.