VOL.204 JUNE 2025
JAPAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER [POLICY RELATED NEWS I] National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty Reopens after Renovation

The newly-created Immersive Theater. Visitors can experience the nature of the Northern Territories, Takeshima, and the Senkaku Islands through immersion in realistic images and sounds.
Photo: Office of Policy Planning and Coordination on Territory and Sovereignty, Cabinet Secretariat

The National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty, a communication hub for information regarding Japan’s territory and sovereignty, reopened after renovation on April 18, 2025. In order to promote a deeper public understanding of the situation surrounding Japan’s territory and sovereignty, the facility has been transformed from a conventional “reading-type exhibition” to an “experiential exhibition” by utilizing the latest video technology, including immersive technology. This article presents the highlights of the renovated museum.

National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty

The National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty is an admission-free national exhibition facility located in Chiyoda City, Tokyo. The museum opened in January 2018 as a communication hub to promote accurate understanding regarding Japan’s territory and sovereignty, both domestically and internationally, in response to the increasingly challenging situation surrounding these issues. Specifically, the exhibition presents the facts, as well as the position and efforts of the Japanese government, regarding the Northern Territories¹ and Takeshima,² which are Japanese territory but are illegally occupied by other countries, and the Senkaku Islands,³ where there is no issue of territorial sovereignty to be resolved but the situations over the surrounding maritime areas are becoming increasingly complicated.

The locations of the Northern Territories, Takeshima, and the Senkaku Islands. See the notes for more information on these three regions.
Source: Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Map data: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan

Major points of the renovation

Prior to the renovation, the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty featured mainly “reading-type” exhibits such as panel displays, but the renovation has introduced the latest video technology, including immersive technology, to transform the space into an experiential exhibition that gives visitors a realistic sense of being at the actual sites. Under the theme “Islands Offer a Window to Japan and the World,” the exhibition uses easy-to-understand charts and images to familiarize the younger generation, including school children, with the islands that are part of Japan’s territory. In addition, the museum plans to expand into a new space in the same building in the summer and fall of 2025, where it will be able to offer workshops and other activities.

Highlights of the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty

(1) Opening Vision
The Opening Vision explains the historical background and the current challenging international situation regarding the territory of Japan, as well as the purpose of establishing the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty.

(2) Northern Territories Section, Takeshima Section, and Senkaku Islands Section
This area is divided into three booths dedicated, respectively, to the Northern Territories, Takeshima, and the Senkaku Islands. The booths feature panel displays, short films, and exhibits. Visitors can acquire basic knowledge about the history and current situation of each island group.

(3) History Wall
Three large screens display animated images to give visitors a realistic sense of the history of the Northern Territories, Takeshima, and the Senkaku Islands on a grand scale.

(4) Immersive Theater
Natural scenery from the Northern Territories, Takeshima, and the Senkaku Islands is projected onto the floor, walls and ceiling to create a stunning effect. Immersed in a realistic visual and audio environment, visitors can enjoy the virtual experience of flying through the skies over the islands or diving into the surrounding sea.

(5) Initiatives by the Japanese Government
This section introduces the policies of the Government of Japan to preserve the national territory and to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law, as well as initiatives to realize these policies in the midst of an increasingly challenging international situation.

(6) Digital Globe: Hands on Earth 
This section uses a large, globe-shaped video device to easily and clearly explain material that should be covered in history, geography, and other classes, in accordance with curriculum guidelines. Visitors can also learn about Japan’s remote islands, resources, national security, etc.

* All exhibits are labeled in Japanese and English. Some exhibits are available in Russian, Chinese, and Korean.

• 1. The four islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai in the Sea of Okhotsk, northeast of the main island of Hokkaido. These islands are part of Hokkaido. In 1945, the Northern Territories were occupied by the Soviet Union (now the Russian Federation), and remain illegally occupied up until the present day. 
• 2. Islands located northwest of the Oki Islands in Shimane Prefecture, in the Chugoku region of Japan. Takeshima is part of Okinoshima Town, Shimane Prefecture. The islands have been illegally occupied by the Republic of Korea since the 1950s.
• 3. Islands located in southwestern Japan, northwest of Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture. The Senkaku Islands are part of Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture. They are Japanese territory and are currently under the valid control of Japan. Although there is no issue of territorial sovereignty to be resolved over the Senkaku Islands, the situations in the surrounding maritime areas are becoming increasingly complicated.