The Classic Piano Exhibition Room has a rare collection of antique pianos (fortepianos), such as the “Strohm” manufactured in 1793, and the “Pisa” Harpsichord manufactured in the 1580s. The full sweep of the development of keyboard instruments from the 16th to the 20th centuries can be viewed in one setting. Celebrated composers such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Chopin composed and performed on similar instruments to those assembled in the museum. Uniquely, the Min-On Music Museum’s antique instruments are not just on display, but are played on an hourly basis. Visitors also hear the sounds of antique automatic reproducing pianos, various kinds of music boxes from the 19th century, and the “Orchestrion” mechanical organ.

Cylinder and disc boxes, automata. Presentations of various instruments. Website only in Japanese.

Large collection of instruments, including a Musical Carousel Automaton, Mermod Frere 6-cylinder Interchangeable, Symphonion Style 25c “Rococo”, Stella 17 1/4 Inch Disk Music Box, Regina Cabinet Model Style 67, Mira Console, Alexandra Interchangeable Cylinder, Bremond Organ Celeste Cylinder, Nicole Freres Mandolin Music box, Regina Orchestral Corona No.34, Polyphone Style 42CG, Mills Viorano Virtuoso, Mortier Fairground Dance Organ, Wurlitzer Model B Orchestrion, Fotoplayer style 20, Arubro Dance Organ, phonographs

Website only in Japanese.

Exhibition room A exhibits the world’s largest cylinder type music box “interchangeable cylinder orchestra box” that can play 200 songs. In exhibition room B, the music boxes produced in the 1850s and 1920s are exhibited, and in exhibition room C, exhibits are mainly focused on small music boxes such as automata and musical bird boxes. Website only in Japanese.