Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan – A Tactile Journey Through Japan’s Monetary Story

Stepping into the Currency Museum, tucked opposite the Bank of Japan’s historic HQ in Nihonbashi, immediately grounds you in centuries of currency history. The modern galleries, refreshed in 2015, feature illuminated displays of ancient Fuhonsen and Wadōkaichin coins from the 7th–8th centuries, side by side with massive Edo-period Oban gold ingots that once financed whole domains . There’s a rich survey here—coins, notes, rice, cloth, even leather currency—that maps Japan’s evolving economy from domestic beginnings to greater East Asian exchange . What sets this museum apart are the hands-on moments. You can heft a replica “senryoubako”—a thousand-ryō Edo coin chest—and immediately grasp what “heavy money” truly means (20 kg of gold does not fool around) . The museum also weaves interactive mini-games into its narrative, making the rhythms of barter, taxation, and monetary reform feel surprisingly alive . Beyond visual stories and interactive fun lies a deeply curated treasure: the Tanaka Keibun (Senpeikan) Collection, spanning Japanese and Chinese coins and relics, safeguarded at the Bank since 1944 . It’s a thoughtfully laid-out loop—step in, follow the historical flow, touch the weight of wealth, and step out with a clearer sense of how money shaped—and still shapes—Japan’s society. If you’re drawn to economic history, tangibility in museums, or simply curious about the evolution of value, this place offers a rich, multi-sensory window into Japan’s relationship with money. #tokyospots