Information on Traditional Japanese Clocks (Wadokei)

In this system, each year was devived into 24 seasons. Both day and night were defined by sunrise and sunset, and split into six equal hours, so that the length of one hour in both day and night changes from season to season. During the Edo period, many different types of clocks were made with full of Japanese ideas to tell time using this system. These clocks were rendered redundant after 1873, when the fixed time system was adopted.

Audio guide

Late Edo Period

Lantern Clock with Double Foliot Balance
Late Edo Period

Paperweight Clock
Late Edo Period

Turtle Shell Chiming Pocket Watch
Late Edo Period

Pillar Clock-Shaped Yatate and Netsuke Sundial
Mid-Edo Period

Large Lantern Clock with Single Foliot Balance
1850

Shumisengi
Late Edo Period

Wall Clock with Circle Graph Dial
Late Edo Period

Early Pilar Clock with Single Foliot Balance
1853

Small Stationary Pillar Clock with Balance Wheel and Replaceable and Segmented Dial Panel
Late Edo Period

Pillar Clock with Balance Wheel and Corrugated Dial Panel
Late Edo Period

Carriage Clock with Single Foliot Balance
Edo Period

Pedometer
Edo Period

Hourly Ball-Dropping Table Clock
Late Edo period

Singe Foliot Balance Wall Clock with Solar and Moon Phase function