Bank of Japan Currency Museum 貨幣博物館

Unlock the past of currency at the Bank of Japan Currency Museum. The museum's massive collection of antiquated money includes everything from ancient coins up to the modern yen, as well as examples of unusual currency from the rest of the world.

Access the museum by train.

The Bank of Japan Currency Museum sits across the street from the historic Bank of Japan Headquarters in Nihonbashi's financial district.

Get to Mitsukoshimae Station via the Ginza or Hanzomon lines. Nihonbashi Station and Tokyo Station are also within walking distance.

Delve into the olden days of Japanese currency and marvel at the many forms of cash once used in the country before Japan was unified under one currency.

You'll be able to see actual gold coins, called oban. You'll also find out what people could buy with certain coins, and at what price.

The museum opened 100 years after the foundation of the Bank of Japan. Currency in Japan has an interesting history: the first coins were issued in the 7th century, then there was a period in the Middle Ages when the state did not issue coins. In the early modern period, gold, silver and copper coins were issued. Seeing and learning about the variety of coins is a great way to learn about history. Seeing and learning about the diverse currency is a great gateway into the past.