Honjo Waseda no Mori Museum

The Honjo Waseda no Mori Museum opened in October 2020 as a joint cultural facility established through collaboration between Honjo City and Waseda University. Located in the Waseda Research Park on the university's Honjo Campus, the museum serves as a center of local culture within the area designated as "Honjo Waseda Cultural Forest," which is surrounded by the natural environment of Okuboyama and Asamiyama Hills.

The museum's collection traces the history of the Honjo Kodama region from the Paleolithic period through modern times through archaeological materials excavated from the area. The star attraction is the "Laughing Haniwa," a rare terra-cotta tomb figurine holding a shield that has become the symbol of Honjo City and the model for its mascot character Hani-Pon. Other notable exhibits include a completed cast of a small glass ball and diverse haniwa figures, all artifacts rarely found elsewhere in Japan. Beyond local archaeology, the museum displays valuable cultural assets from Waseda University's collection of over 5 million items, including 2 National Treasures, 7 Important Cultural Properties, and 8 Important Art Objects.

Visitors can explore permanent exhibitions showcasing pottery, excavated materials, and temporary exhibitions that often feature collaborations with Waseda's other cultural institutions, such as the Theatre Museum. The museum has welcomed over 90,000 visitors in its first five years of operation. Educational programs, workshops, and lectures are regularly offered, providing hands-on experiences with local history and culture.

Access is convenient via the JR Joetsu/Hokuriku Shinkansen, with the museum just a 3-minute walk from Honjo-Waseda Station's south exit. Visitors arriving from JR Honjo Station on the Takasaki Line can take the Hanipon Shuttle bus, which takes approximately 13 minutes to reach the station. By car, the museum is 5 minutes from the Honjo Kodama Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, with free parking available for 248 regular vehicles and 2 accessible parking spaces. Admission is free.