Currency Museum, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The museum houses a rare collection of 'wadokaichin,' officially recognized as Japan's oldest minted copper coin dating back to the 8th century.

2. 2

   Visitors can view a 'million-ryo' chest, an iconic storage container used by the Edo Shogunate to hold gold coins.

3. 3

   The facility contains significant examples of E-sen, decorative coins used primarily for ritual purposes or temple offerings rather than as legal tender.

4. 4

   The collection includes trial patterns and rejected currency designs that provide insight into the development of modern Japanese banknotes.

5. 5

   The museum showcases 'Cho-gin' or bean-shaped silver currency used during the Edo period before the transition to standardized modern coinage.

Overview

The Currency Museum, operated by the Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, serves as the primary repository for the Bank of Japan's numismatic and monetary history collection. It is located in Chuo City, Tokyo, directly across from the Bank of Japan’s main headquarters. The exhibits trace the evolution of Japanese currency from ancient times, including the earliest silver and copper coins, to the modern yen. Visitors can view a diverse array of transitionary currencies, such as feudal hansatsu notes and traditional koban gold coins. The collection highlights the historical development of Japan's economic systems through physical artifacts and descriptive panels. The museum provides context for how monetary shifts mirrored Japan's political and social transitions over centuries. It operates as a public-facing institution under the central bank's research department.

Insider tips

• Check the official website for special thematic exhibition schedules before visiting to see unique items not in the permanent collection.

• Use the provided museum tablets or information guides to fully understand the historical context of the intricate coins on display.

• Combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding Nihonbashi financial district to see the historic Bank of Japan headquarters building exterior.