Ikikoku Museum

Built on a hill overlooking the excavated ancient settlement of Harunotsuji on Iki Island, this museum tells the story of a kingdom that flourished from around 200 BCE as a trading hub between Japan and mainland Asia. The museum was designed by architect Kurokawa Kisho so the entire site is visible from its rooftop. Inside, the permanent exhibition opens with text from the third-century Chinese chronicle that contains the oldest known written mention of Iki. A central diorama of life at Harunotsuji features figures modeled on the faces of present-day island residents. A full-size reconstruction of a semi-composite trading boat sits in the main gallery.