Many dates are approximate. Some developments emerged over a period of years, and precise dates for events before A.D. 600 have not been determined.

10,000-300 BC Jomon Period (縄文時代)

List of Jomon periods:
Incipient Jomon: Linear applique, Nail impression, Cord impression, Muroya lower.
Initial Jomon: Igusa, Inaridai, Mito, Tado lower, Tado upper, Shiboguchi, Kayama.
Early Jomon: Hanazumi, Sekiyama, Kurohama, Moroiso A, Moroiso B, Juusanbodai.
Middle Jomon: Katsusaka/Otamadai, Kasori E1, Kasori E2.
Late Jomon: Horinouchi, Kasori B1, Kasori B2, Angyo 1.
Final Jomon: Angyo 2, Angyo 3.

300 BC-300 AD Yayoi Period (弥生時代)

300-710 Yamato Period (大和)

The Yamato Period can be divided into two parts based upon the arrival of Buddhism: 
The Kofun period ( ca. 300 A.D - 645 ) 
The Asuka period ( 645 - 710 ) 

710-794 Nara or Tenpyô Period (奈良時代)

794-1185 Heian Period (平安時代) (Late Heian: Fujiwara) 

1185-1333 Kamakura Period

1333-1336 Kemmu Restoration Period (建武の新政)

1338-1568 Muromachi Period (室町時代) 

Sengoku jidai or "warring-states" period (戦国時代), is a period of long civil war in the History of Japan that spans through the middle 15th to the early 17th centuries. It started in the late Muromachi period in 1467 with the Onin War (Onin no Ran 1467-1478), lasting through the entire Azuchi-Momoyama period, until final peace and order was achieved in 1615 of the Edo period.

1568-1600 Azuchi-Momoyama Period

1600-1868 Edo Period

1868-1912 Meiji Period (明治時代)

1912-1926 Taisho Period (大正)

1926-1989 Showa Period

1989- Heisei Period