National Museum of Japanese History

The National Museum of Japanese History is Japan’s only national history museum. It is a comprehensive research and exhibition institution aimed at advancing historical studies, archaeology, and folklore (minzokugaku), and promoting educational activities by making materials publicly accessible. Access is either about a 20-minute walk from Keisei Sakura Station, or take the Chiba Green Bus bound for Tamachi Shako, get off at “Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan Iriguchi,” then walk about 5 minutes. The museum’s exhibits focus primarily on Japan’s history and culture from tens of thousands of years ago through the 1970s, built around three pillars—archaeology, history, and folklore. The exhibition halls are organized into six areas: “Prehistory & Ancient,” “Medieval,” “Early Modern,” “Folklore,” “Modern,” and “Contemporary.” With an enormous total floor area of about 35,000 m², there’s so much content that you could spend a full day and still not see everything. The Prehistory & Ancient zone is especially extensive; visitors often say that if you spend time carefully viewing the dioramas and replicas, you may not reach the later halls—so it’s recommended to arrive early in the day. The building is located within a section of Sakura Castle Ruins. The on-site restaurant offers meals with views of the lush castle-park greenery, and there’s also a 250-seat “rest area” near the adjacent lawn. On nice days, bringing a bento lunch is also a great idea.