A museum presenting kofun, Japan's ancient burial mounds, with the main theme of exploring the origins of the ancient Japanese empire and international influence on early Japan. It is designed to provide a full view of the Chikatsu Asuka Fudoki-No-Oka, and various archaeological findings are exhibited in a space resembling the inside of a kofun (designed by architect Tadao Ando). The exhibited items are displayed in three sections, Chikatsu Asuka and International Influence, The Origins of an Ancient Realm, and Modern Science and Our Cultural Heritage. The Chikatsu Asuka and International Influence section exhibits numerous swords and knives, metal fittings, earrings and rings that were found in the Ichisuka tumulus cluster, created from the 4th to 7th centuries, or Kofun Period to Asuka Period. The Origins of an Ancient Realm section recreates the pit-style burial chamber and the corridor-style burial chamber in full scale, explaining how a kofun was created as well as its internal appearance. There is also a model of the Daisenryo Kofun, recreating faithfully how it looked when it was first created. Last but not least, the Modern Science and Our Cultural Heritage section exhibits a shura (sledge) and lever excavated in 1978 from the burial mounds of the Mitsuzuka tumulus of the Furuichi tumulus cluster, as well as explaining various techniques used in excavating cultural assets such as the water immersion excavation process, the use of radar waves to scan the soil of an excavation site, and x-ray photography. Also, the museum regularly holds observation tours of surrounding cultural properties, guided and explained by curators, in an effort to deepen the sense of unity of the museum with its surrounding cultural properties. Courses, seminars and various events are also held.

• Location

  〒 585-0001 299 Oazahigashiyama, Kanan-cho, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka

• Child Friendly

  1

• Fax

  0721-93-8325

• Tel

  0721-93-8321

• Closed

  Mondays (closed the following day when holidays fall on Monday), New Year holidays

• Open

  9:45 - 17:00 (admissions to exhibits open 10:00 - 16:30)

• Price

  Adults ¥310, senior high, university students, and seniors aged 65 and over ¥210, junior high school age and under free

• Directions

  Board a Kongo bus for Hannan Neopolis at Kishi Station on the Kintetsu Nagano Line; short walk from the last stop

• URL

  http://www.chikatsu-asuka.jp/?s=english/top