The Honjo Waseda no Mori Museum is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM). The museum is closed every Monday (or the following Tuesday if Monday falls on a national holiday) and during the New Year holiday period from December 28 to January 3. It's advisable to check their website before visiting as there may be occasional temporary closures for exhibitions or maintenance.
Admission to the museum is completely free. There are no entrance fees for either the permanent collection or special exhibitions, making it an accessible cultural destination for all visitors. This policy applies to both the archaeological exhibits featuring local history and the rotating displays from Waseda University's extensive collection.
From Tokyo, take the JR Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen to Honjo-Waseda Station (approximately 50-60 minutes from Tokyo or Ueno stations). The museum is just a 3-minute walk from the station's south exit. If driving, take the Kan-Etsu Expressway to Honjo Kodama Interchange, then it's about 5 minutes to the museum. Free parking is available for 248 vehicles. Alternatively, from JR Honjo Station on the Takasaki Line, take the Hanipon Shuttle bus (approximately 13 minutes).
The museum exhibits archaeological materials from the Paleolithic to modern periods, including rare haniwa figures and pottery. It also displays items from Waseda University's 5-million-piece collection, featuring 2 National Treasures, 7 Important Cultural Properties, and 8 Important Art Objects. Special exhibitions include collaborations with Waseda's Theatre Museum.
Traveler reviews
There are lots of HANIWA in Honjo city. Haniwa are clay figures in the shape of men, women or animals especially horses, hich were made for ritual use and buried with the dead as funerary objects druing the Kofun era, that is Tumulus period.
This museum was jointly opened by Honjo City and Waseda University. It displays laughing haniwa, which are rare even nationwide. Admission is free and photography is permitted. The first floor houses the permanent exhibition, while the second floor hosts special exhibitions. The museum is not particularly large, but overall it was well worth seeing. Unfortunately, we arrived just before closing time and were unable to enjoy the exhibits at our leisure.
The smiling haniwa are the best. Just looking at them makes you feel happy.
The "Shield-bearing Human Figure Haniwa" has a smiling expression, which is rare even nationwide, and this haniwa made its world debut when it was exhibited at the "Japanese Art Smiles" exhibition held in Paris from October to December 2012.
You can see all this pottery and haniwa for free, and get a glimpse into the lives of the people who were excavated from the objects. You can also get a free manhole card, although there are a limited number available.
This is a museum of archaeology, folklore, and other studies located on the Waseda University campus. Admission is free. It houses a large collection of haniwa excavated in the surrounding area, including the "Laughing Shield-Bearing Haniwa," which was the model for Honjo City's mascot character "Hanipon," as well as laughing female haniwa, decorative horses, house-shaped haniwa, bow-shaped haniwa, and snow haniwa. There are also exhibits from the Jomon, Yayoi, and Heian periods.
The current special exhibition (January 2026) is a film and theater poster exhibition, which will be a delight for old fans.
Photography is also allowed, except for special exhibitions, which is a plus.
