Shibayama Kofun Haniwa Museum

The Shibayama Kofun Haniwa Museum is an archaeological repository in the Shibayama region housing collections of terracotta figures and vessels. These pieces came from ancient burial mounds and reveal details about funerary practices, social structures, and daily life from a formative period in Japanese history.

The collection documents artifacts from a period between the 3rd and 6th centuries when Japan experienced significant changes in burial customs and social organization. This era marks a pivotal time when communities invested heavily in elaborate mound burials to honor their deceased leaders and members.

The exhibits reveal how ancient people honored their dead through clay figures depicting priests, soldiers, and animals in ceremonial arrangements. Visitors can see how these statues were positioned in processions to accompany the deceased into the afterlife.

The location is easily accessible in the Shibayama area and welcomes visitors during regular operating hours on most days. Signage is provided in both Japanese and English to help navigate the exhibition spaces and understand the displays.

The museum offers visitors hands-on experience creating clay figurines and trying traditional crafting methods used centuries ago. These activities reveal how time-consuming and skillful the production of such objects was in ancient times.