ENGLISH

EXHIBITION OVERVIEW

The ōoku refers to the living quarters of the wives and ladies-in-waiting of the Tokugawa shoguns during the Edo period (1603–1868). It was sequestered within the shogunate’s fortress Edo Castle, which was historically located where the Imperial Palace now stands. The castle’s main compound was divided into sections called the omote and nakaoku. Beyond these, copper-plated walls marked the boundary of the strictly controlled ōoku, accessible via only two passageways known as the “bell corridors” (osuzu-rōka). As part of the shogun’s private quarters, the world of the ōoku was hidden from outsiders. Its secrecy made it an object of public curiosity until its dissolution in the late 19th century. Stories, rumors, and speculation gave rise to a wealth of narratives, dramatic works, Kabuki plays, and ukiyo-e prints set in the ōoku. Today, interest remains high in this secretive institution, and countless movies, TV shows, manga, and novels feature women of the ōoku as their main characters. Virtually all of these, however, are works of fiction and fail to portray the ōoku as it truly was.
 This exhibition attempts to uncover a more truthful picture of the ōoku through the stories told by some 180 objects. These range from historical records and architectural drawings to the personal belongings of the wives, daughters, and ladies-in-waiting of the ōoku, including principal wives and senior-ranking ladies-in-waiting known as elders. The exhibition balances discussions of the ōoku of popular imagination with academic insights from the latest research.

EXHIBITION INFORMATION

Exhibition Title
Special Exhibition
Ōoku: Women of Power in Edo Castle
Dates
July 19 (Sat.) – September 21 (Sun.), 2025
Closed
Mondays (except July 21, August 11, September 15) and July 22 (Tue.)
Hours
9:30 am - 5:00 pm *Open until 8:00 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and July 20, August 10, September 14.
*Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Organizers
Tokyo National Museum, NHK, NHK Promotions Inc.
With the special cooperation of
Tokugawa Memorial Foundation
With the sponsorship of
SGC, Dai Nippon Printing(DNP)
General Inquiries
(+81)-(0)50-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)
*Some objects may be changed during the exhibition period.
*Changes may occur in exhibition period, display period, opening hours and closed days. Any changes will be confirmed on the official website and social media sites. Please confirm the latest information on the official exhibition website.

ACCESS

Venue Access

Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park)
13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-8712
●JR Lines: 10-minute walk from Ueno or Uguisudani Station
●Tokyo Metro Lines: 15-minute walk from Ueno or Nezu Station
●Keisei Lines: 15-minute walk from Keisei Ueno Station

ADMISSION

Advance Ticket
Until July 18, 2025
Same-day Ticket
From July 19, 2025
Adults ¥1,900 ¥2,100
University students ¥1,100 ¥1,300
High school students ¥700 ¥900
*Free admission for junior high school students and younger children, and for visitors with disability identification cards (and one accompanying person). Please show relevant identification upon entry.
*Advance reservations not required. Exhibition entry may be delayed due to crowd control on busy days.
*No refunds, cancellations or reissuing of tickets allowed. Please confirm all details before purchasing.
*Commercial re-sale of tickets strictly prohibited.
*This exhibition ticket holders may also view TNM Collection Exhibitions on the same day.