About the Museum
Museum type: History Museum
Closed: The museum is always open except for temporary closures
Hours of operation: 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: (Adult) 700 JPY (Students) 600 JPY (Children) 300 JPY
Viewing time: (Carefully) 60 mins (Quickly) 20 mins
English brochure: Available
URL: https://aom-tokyo.com/english/
Address: Higashi-Ikebukuro 3-1-4, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-8630, Sunshine City Bunka-kaikan 7th floor
TEL: +81-3-3989-3491
E-mail: museum@orientmuseum.com
Nearest station: Higashi-Ikebukuro Station, Ikebukuro Station
Closed: The museum is always open except for temporary closures
Hours of operation: 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: (Adult) 700 JPY (Students) 600 JPY (Children) 300 JPY
Viewing time: (Carefully) 60 mins (Quickly) 20 mins
English brochure: Available
URL: https://aom-tokyo.com/english/
Address: Higashi-Ikebukuro 3-1-4, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-8630, Sunshine City Bunka-kaikan 7th floor
TEL: +81-3-3989-3491
E-mail: museum@orientmuseum.com
Nearest station: Higashi-Ikebukuro Station, Ikebukuro Station
What is the Ancient Orient Museum?
The Ancient Orient Museum is dedicated to the ancient Orient, located in Sunshine City, a commercial complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The museum opened in 1978 as Japan’s first museum specializing in the ancient Orient. The museum’s purpose is to conduct research on the ancient Orient and collect, store, and exhibit related materials.
The museum has a collection of about 5,000 objects dating from the Paleolithic to the Sasanian period, mainly from West Asia and Egypt, as well as a large number of artifacts from the Syrian region.
In addition, the museum conducts research activities on prehistoric archaeology, historical archaeology, art history, documentary history, and museology, as well as excavations outside of Japan.
Zebu-shaped Ware, Northern Iran, 1200 – 800 BC
What Can You See?
The museum is divided into permanent exhibitions, a visual space, and a museum store.
The permanent collection is divided into thematic sections: “The Oldest Orient,” “Excavations in Syria,” “Ancient Mesopotamia,” “Ancient Egyptian Culture,” “Ancient Iran and Its Surroundings,” and “Cultural Interaction between East and West.” The exhibits include weapons, accessories, pottery, statues, and artifacts from each period and region. Religious artifacts from Gandhara are on display, starting with a Female Figurine from 5500 BC. The exhibits and area layout of the museum may change during special exhibitions. Each exhibit is accompanied by its title in English.
In the visual space, you can enjoy a 17-minute video introducing the history and culture of the ancient Orient with English subtitles. The museum store sells books and goods related to the ancient Orient.
Highlights of the Museum
Highlights of the museum include a life-size replica of the Code of Hammurabi, the original of which is in the Louvre Museum in Paris, an Egyptian mummy mask, and a Turkish Copper Wagon from 2300 BC. Seemingly unusual and rare artifacts, such as the mummy of a catfish, are also on display.
Remarks
Sunshine City is a vast commercial complex. After visiting the Museum of the Ancient Orient, you can enjoy shopping and dining in Sunshine City. It also has an aquarium and a planetarium.
