Osaka Mint Bureau (Cherry Blossom Viewing in Spring)

I have to many coin museums and this one was short and sweet. I enjoyed the layout and the short history lesson since coins pressed in Osaka are only since the mid 1800s. Still quite interesting.

Wow, this is possibly the best coin museum I’ve ever visited! The displays feature an extensive (if not complete) collection of Japanese coins from different series and years, making it incredibly informative and fascinating for numismatists. There’s even a dedicated library on-site, where you can sit down and conduct in-depth research.

Visited on 4/6 for the sakura viewing. You need reservation to enter during the sakura viewing period. Reservation is open mid March and it runs out fast, so check the website often! This place is famous for its collection of sakura trees, including rare variants with greenish and yellowish flower that is hard to find anywhere else. They also sell commemorative coins, bookmarks, and even cookies and senbei with sakura theme at the gift shop. Definitely worth a trip!

Visited 4/16 and there are still many blooms as compared to other areas in Osaka that we visited. There’s not a lot of people so it’s easy to take lots of pictures. Admission is free and no reservation required for a group of less than 10 pax. It’s nice to visit this place to see the sakura! 🌸🌸🌸

This is our favorite place during the 2024 spring trip. It is a historical museum with more than 150 years and the coin production is still operating well today. The admission is free, all the staff from gate guards, information counter guides and instructors inside the museum are all kind and welcoming. The abundant content inside is impressive and inspiring, a perfect place for technology lovers, history lovers or anyone curious about the creativity of humankind. Appreciate them to have arrange and maintain such a high-quality museum. We were so fulfilled and enlightened after visiting. Absolutely a place worth visiting more than one time. Authentically recommend to everyone! The 1st floor is the hallway area, there is bathroom, information counter and the huge old clock operating since the opening of the Japan Mint. Since the Mint Museum is actually also a famous cherry blossom viewing site, there are pictures and brief introduction of the main cherry blossom species around whole Mint Museum area, along the aisle leading to the bathroom. The exhibition starts from 2nd floor, where they introduced the establishment of Japan Mint, the people who devoted for the building construction, the modern technologies for coin production, the design of coins, the introduction of double entry bookkeeping, etc. There is a film introducing the brief history of Japan Mint with 3D miniature model moving alongside. They offer detailed videos clips explaining explicitly the whole coin production process. There is a detailed chronicles of the Japan Mint alongside with the main historical events in Japan and worldwide. The operation of Japan Mint doesn’t only include coin production, but also medal production (for the multiple Olympics Japan has held throughout history) and badges production (for honoring outstanding citizens such as artists, architects, authors, athletes) The third floor displays the evolution of Japan current, from ancient shells and stones to modern Japanese Yen. There is also a huge collection of various commemorative coins of Japan, such as the 50th anniversary of Emperor Showa’s throne, the One Piece animation and the local feature coins of all Japan prefectures. There is oversea commemorative coin collection as well, such as the Canada wild animals collection, 120th anniversary of Peter Rabbit, and the butterflies of Cook Islands. The beauty of some coins are really beyond description! The design, the brilliance, the color, such a superb collection.