About
Leaving behind the bustle of Shibuya and stepping into a corner of Jinnan, a door to another world beyond time and space quietly opens. Standing there is Japan’s first museum dedicated to ancient Egypt. Spread out in a room on the 8th floor of a building called Maison Shibuya, this space invites visitors, as if drawn by the flow of the Nile, to a distant land of deserts and mysteries.
Upon stepping inside, what unfolds before your eyes is the essence of Egyptian civilization, from prehistoric times to the Roman period. Out of a collection of about 1,000 items, 100 carefully selected pieces are displayed by theme. Statues, ornaments, everyday items, murals, stone pillars, and a variety of relics line the space, enveloping visitors in the breath of antiquity.
Particularly eye-catching is a wooden coffin from around 300 BCE. This coffin, which housed the mummy of Lady Ta-Akhet-Uret, is adorned with a famous scene from the “Book of the Dead,” vividly reflecting the views on life and death and the religious beliefs of the time. In addition, a beautifully gilded mummy mask, thanks to its excellent state of preservation, conveys the pinnacle of ancient craftsmanship to the present day.
The museum consists of five areas, each with a different theme and atmosphere: an excavation hut, a temple, a patron’s salon, and more. In the excavation hut, visitors can experience the excitement of exploring relics from an archaeologist’s perspective; in the temple, they can feel a sense of awe toward the gods in a solemn atmosphere. In the patron’s salon, one can imagine the elegant lives of the nobility of the time.
The founder and director of this museum, Mr. Tadashi Kikukawa, developed an interest in visiting ruins from childhood, and after achieving success in the financial industry, began collecting ancient Egyptian artifacts. His passion and curiosity are infused into every corner of the museum. Staff specializing in Egyptology are always present, providing visitors with deep knowledge and stories.
Although located in the heart of Shibuya, this museum offers a space removed from the noise, filled with tranquility and mystery. Here, visitors can experience a journey transcending time, encountering the grand history and culture of ancient Egypt. In this place where past and present intersect within a modern city, visitors are sure to gain new perspectives and inspiration.