Special Exhibition at Takatsuki City Museum Allows Children to Learn About Haniwa While Having Fun This Summer

Chicken-shaped Haniwa, House-shaped Haniwa

From Saturday, July 11, 2026, to Sunday, September 6, 2026, the Takatsuki City Imashirozuka Ancient History Museum will hold its annual summer special exhibition, "Welcome to Haniwa World," where children can learn about haniwa while having fun during their summer vacation. This year's theme is "Haniwa of Imashirozuka Kofun," and we will explore the charm of haniwa by explaining the meanings embedded in the haniwa arranged at Imashirozuka Kofun and what kinds of animals and people served as models for them.

Takatsuki City is known for having one of the nation's leading collections of archaeological materials related to haniwa, including the haniwa figure group of Imashirozuka Kofun, believed to be the true tomb of Emperor Keitai, the hunting haniwa group of Hiramisuka Kofun, and artifacts from the Shin-ike Haniwa Production Site.

To help children on summer vacation become familiar with haniwa, a representative cultural property of our city, the museum annually holds a free special exhibition titled "Haniwa World" with changing themes, using illustrations and simple explanations that children can easily understand. This year's exhibition theme is "Haniwa of Imashirozuka Kofun." Various haniwa excavated from Imashirozuka Kofun, such as bird-shaped haniwa, house-shaped haniwa, and cylindrical haniwa, which are not displayed in the permanent collection, will be exhibited. Their models and meanings will be clearly explained using panels and photographs. For example, bird-shaped haniwa are modeled after waterfowl such as swans and chickens that announce the dawn, and they played a role in transporting souls to the afterlife or signaling the completion of rituals held at midnight. House-shaped haniwa are modeled after structures used for rituals, such as ceremonial halls for festivals or buildings where preparations for rituals were made with sacred water, and are thought to have been sacred objects used in rituals accompanying royal succession and funeral rites of the time. A total of 25 haniwa will be explained. During summer vacation, we invite everyone in the family to visit the history museum and learn about haniwa.

[Exhibition Overview]

Exhibition Period: Saturday, July 11, 2026, to Sunday, September 6, 2026

Closed: Mondays (open on national holidays), the weekday following a national holiday (July 21, August 12)

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Last admission at 4:30 PM)

Location: Takatsuki City Imashirozuka Ancient History Museum (48-8 Korai Shinmachi, Takatsuki City)

Admission Fee: Free

Access: From Platform 1 at JR Takatsuki Station (Takatsuki City Bus)

1. Take the bus bound for "Nasahara" and get off at "Imashirozuka Kofun Mae" (immediately). 2. Take the bus bound for "Kansai University / Hagitani / Hagitani Sports Park" and get off at "Himuro" (8-minute walk). * Free parking available (35 spaces)

[Other Events]

Summer Special Haniwa Making Workshop

Make haniwa out of clay with the theme of haniwa from Imashirozuka Kofun. Participation is possible for individual sessions as the content is not sequential.

Date and Time: Sundays from August 2 to August 30, 10:15 AM to 12:00 PM

* The haniwa to be made will differ depending on the participation date.

Capacity: 15 pairs per session, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fee: 300 yen

Application: From July 3 (Fri) to July 15 (Wed) via the city's website

https://www.city.takatsuki.osaka.jp/event/history/175716.html

[Related Website]

Imashirozuka Ancient History Museum 32nd Special Exhibition "(Welcome to Haniwa World) Haniwa of Imashirozuka Kofun" (Takatsuki City Website)

https://www.city.takatsuki.osaka.jp/site/history/175722.html

[Contact Information]

Takatsuki City Imashirozuka Ancient History Museum

Phone: 072-682-0820