Who is Himiko, and what are her mirrors?

Our story begins about 1,800 years ago, in the year 239 CE, toward the end of Japan’s Yayoi period. Himiko, shaman-queen of the land of Wa (as Japan was known then), sent an envoy to the Chinese state of Wei. In return, she received a gift of 100 bronze mirrors from the Wei emperor. Referred to as “Himiko’s Mirrors,” these are thought to have included triangular-rimmed mirrors with deities and beasts, a type of mirror found in ancient burial mounds all over the land of Wa. Himiko, and the Yamato Kingship that succeeded her, distributed these mirrors to local rulers in various parts of the country, hoping to bolster their own authority.

This unprecedented Special Exhibition reveals the secrets behind Himiko’s mirrors, as well as the rise of the Yamato Kingship, based on cutting-edge research. Immerse yourself in this epic historical tale, reflected in these mystifying mirrors.

Information

Exhibition Period

31 October (Sat) 2026 –
11 January (Mon, public holiday) 2027

Opening times:

Sundays, Tuesday–Friday
9:30–17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Saturdays (Kyuhaku After Five)
9:30–19:00 (last entry at 18:30)
* Please note that Kyuhaku After Five hours are subject to change.

Closed:

Mondays
* The following exceptions apply:
The museum will be open on Monday 23 November and Monday 11 January.
The museum will be closed on Tuesday 24 November, and from Thursday 24 December to Thursday 31 December.

Admission Fees
Adults	2,000 yen
University students	1,200 yen
High school students and under-18s	Free

* Tickets for this Special Exhibition are only available in person, once the exhibition has opened. There are no advance tickets for this exhibition.
* The above admission fees also grant entry to the Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall on Floor 4.
* Students MUST present valid student ID.
* Disabled persons (plus 1 carer) are entitled to free admission. Please present proof of eligibility at the entrance to the Special Exhibition Hall.

Admission is FREE (with proof) for the following:

Disabled persons^* (plus 1 carer)
* This refers to holders of officially issued certification for persons with physical, intellectual, and mental disabilities; veterans with combat-related injuries; atomic bomb survivors; patients with intractable illnesses; and pediatric patients with chronic illnesses. Certification that has been registered on the Mirairo ID app is also accepted.
Complimentary ticketholders
Kyushu National Museum Friend of the Museum Special Exhibition ticketholders
Kyushu National Museum Member’s Premium Pass holders
Kyushu National Museum Supporters
Special Supporters and Supporters of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH)
Members of the Seifukai Association (Kyoto National Museum)
ICOM members
Japanese Association of Museums members

Ticket Sales/Details

Advance Tickets

There are no advance tickets for this Special Exhibition.

Same-Day Tickets

● Kyushu National Museum ticket counters and machines (Floor 1)
* Tickets for this Special Exhibition, including Limited-Edition Pair Tickets (see below), are only available in person, once the exhibition has opened. There are no advance tickets for this exhibition.

Tickets cannot be refunded. Resale is prohibited.
To avoid overcrowding, visitors may be asked to wait before entering the Special Exhibition Hall.

Limited-Edition Pair Tickets

Price: 3,600 yen (tax included) for a set of 2 adult tickets

Share with a friend or keep them both for yourself – you can use these tickets whenever you’d like during this Special Exhibition.

* While stocks last.
* These tickets are only available in person, once the exhibition has opened.

Exhibition Flyer

● Organizers:

Kyushu National Museum and Fukuoka Prefecture; NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Fukuoka, Nikkei Inc.

● Co-Organizer:

Kyushu National Museum Promotion Foundation

● Contributors:

Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd.; Kyushu Railway Company

● Special Cooperation:

Dazaifu Tenmangu, SHINSENSHA Co., Ltd.

● Supporter:

Saga Shimbun Co., Ltd.

● Enquiries:

050-5542-8600 (Hello Dial, 9:00–20:00 daily, in Japanese only)

Audio Guide (in Japanese only)

Navigator

Hoshi Sōichirō

With roles as Kira Yamato in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Momo in IDOLiSH7, Hoshi Sōichirō is a voice actor active across anime, video games, film dubbing, commercials, and radio.