Private museum in Berlin-Mitte devoted to samurai culture: armor, swords, and art from the Peter Janssen collection, presented with multimedia and interactive displays.
22 juni 2026 – 31 oktober 2026
A life-size wax figure of “The Bride” from Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” faces historic armor and swords. The exhibition explores how film images of the katana and of bushido relate to real samurai culture.
Berlin entrepreneur Peter Janssen began collecting Japanese samurai objects more than four decades ago; it all started with a sword he bought at a Berlin flea market. This passion grew into one of the largest private collections of its kind, today numbering more than 4,000 objects.
In 2017 Janssen first showed his holdings to the public at the Samurai Art Museum in the Villa Clay in Berlin-Dahlem. As both the collection and visitor interest grew quickly, the museum moved to Auguststraße in Berlin-Mitte, into the former premises of the me Collectors Room, and reopened there on May 8, 2022, as the Samurai Museum Berlin. The museum’s research center remained in Dahlem.
Across some 1,500 square meters, more than 1,000 original objects from over a thousand years of Japanese history are on display, from the late Kofun to the early Meiji period: armor and helmets, blades and sword fittings, masks, textiles, paintings, woodblock prints, tea utensils, and Buddhist sculptures. A special feature is the presentation with touchscreens, gigapixel images, and holograms; a Noh theater stage and a teahouse, both made in Japan, have been reassembled in the museum. Temporary exhibitions build bridges to the present day and to pop culture. In 2026 the museum was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award.
| Volwassenen | € 10 |
|---|---|
| Met korting | € 7School students, university students, people with severe disabilities, and holders of selected discount cards (including the Berlin WelcomeCard, the Deutscher Museumsbund ID, and ICOM) |
| Kinderen & jongeren | gratisgratis t/m 5 jaar · Children under 6 free; school students pay the reduced price. |
| Senioren | –No senior discount mentioned. |
| Mensen met een beperking | € 7Reduced rate for people with severe disabilities (online from €7, at the door €15); no information on companions. |
| Studenten | € 7Reduced rate (online from €7, at the door €15). |
| Groepen (vanaf 10 pers.) | € 12 p.p.Tour groups with a fixed time slot and fixed price; one tour leader per group free; up to 50 people. Free cancellation up to 7 days in advance. |
| Gezinnen | –Family discount in the online ticket shop under “Rabattierte Tickets” (discounted tickets); no fixed family price given. |
| Day ticket at the ticket desk (regular) | € 19reduced €15 |
| Guided tour + ticket (online) | € 15From €15, depending on day and time; €24 at the door. Guided tour surcharge of €5 on top of the museum ticket. |
| Audio guide | € 3,50AI audio guide in your own smartphone’s browser, 20 languages |
| School classes (per person) | € 6Also applies to teachers and chaperones |
Dynamic online pricing by time slot: regular from €10, reduced from €7; higher depending on day, time, and when you book – booking early is cheaper. At the door, prices are €19 or €15 reduced.
According to the museum, 98% step-free; an elevator leads to the second level, and only one installation on the upper floor is not accessible – staff will help on request at the ticket desk. Animals are not allowed (no information on assistance dogs).
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnenAanbevolen vanaf 6 jaar
| Bezoekduur | ca. 2 uur |
|---|---|
| Toegang kinderen | gratis t/m 5 jaar |
Recommended for ages 6 and up. The fox figure Kitsune guides children through the exhibition with riddles and the Yokai game, plus interactive stations. Children's birthday party with a one-hour puzzle rally for ages 8 and up. Children under 14 should not be left unsupervised.
S Oranienburger Straße · 2 min. lopen
S1, S2, S25, S26 Oranienburger Straße; U6 Oranienburger Tor; U8 Rosenthaler Platz; tram M1, M5 Oranienburger Straße, M8 Rosenthaler Platz; bus 142 Tucholskystraße, M41 Abgeordnetenhaus.
Betaald parkeren
Paid street parking on Auguststraße (scarce during the day), with an EV charging station there as well; Park One and Q-Park parking garages a few minutes' drive away.
No café of its own; numerous cafés and restaurants on Auguststraße. Free lockers and coat check in the entrance area; bags and backpacks must be stored in lockers. Museum Wi-Fi for the audio guide. Merchandise in the online shop.
Children’s birthday parties are offered; room rental is not described on the website.
| Rondleidingen | ja · duur ca. 60 min. |
|---|---|
| Audiotour | ja (DE, EN, IT, FR, ES, NL, EL, RO, PL, HU, CS, HR, RU, PT, TR, SV, ZH, JA, KO, HI) |
| Aanbod voor scholen | ja |
| Fotograferen | Photography without flash is allowed; commercial photography only with permission. |
| Goed om te weten | Highlight tours (60 min., max. 15 people, ages 14 and up) daily in German at 13:00 and 17:00, in English at 15:00; can be reserved online or at the ticket desk. Audio guide via QR code in your own smartphone browser; headphones and power banks can be borrowed free of charge. Worksheets for school classes (grades 3–12) available to download. Eating and drinking are not allowed in the exhibition. Exhibition texts in German and English. |
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