Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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Attractions > Tokyo > Theme Parks > Shinjuku

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Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum by Kentaro Ohno (CC BY 2.0)

About

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Downtown Zone by merec0 (CC BY 2.0)

The Edo - Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is a museum of historic Japanese buildings in Koganei Park, Tokyo Japan (just out from the main city of Shinjuku). Japan has had a volatile history. Not only "Man Made" wars but Natural Disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and fire. Historical buildings can be lost by "Man Made" or Natural Disasters, and Tokyo has lost many, so in 1993 the Tokyo Metropolitan Government established the Seven Hectare Edo - Tokyo "Open Air Architectural Museum" as part of the Edo - Tokyo Museum. The goal of this museum is to relocate, reconstruct, preserve and exhibit historical buildings of great cultural value that are impossible to preserve at their actual places as well as to inherit these valuable cultural heritages to future generations. The "Open Air Architectural Museum" has been relocating and reconstructing buildings in accordance with the requirements for preservation, based on a long-term plan for the reconstruction of 30 buildings.

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Downtown Zone by Kentaro Ohno (CC BY 2.0)

The park includes many buildings from the ordinary middle class Japanese experience to the homes of wealthy and powerful individuals such as former Prime Minister Takahashi Korekiyo. You can enter and explore a wide variety of buildings of different styles, periods, and purposes, from upper-class homes to pre-war shops, public baths (sentou), and Western Style buildings from Meiji period. The acclaimed animator "Hayao Miyazaki" often visited here during the creation of his film, Spirited Away, for inspiration.

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Houses by Fumiya Fujihara (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is a great place to experience the feeling of "Old Japan". If your an American, these places are kind of like the "Western Towns" or "Cowboy Towns" in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. There is a similar place like this on the East side of Tokyo (actually, out in Chiba Prefecture near Narita Intl. Airport) called, the "Boso No Mura". If your staying in Ueno, Asakusa, Ginza (i.e. the "Eastern" side of Tokyo) it may be a better option as you can take the train strait out from Tokyo Station.

Access

Closest Train Station: Musashi-Koganei

3-7-1 Sakuracho
Koganei, Tokyo 184-0005 Japan

Tel: 042-388-3300

from Musashi-Koganei Station (from Shinjuku take the "Chuou Line"): take a "Seibu Bus" (at platform No. 2 or 3 near the north exit of Musashi-Koganei Station) and get off at Koganei-koen Nishi-guchi and walk for 5 min.

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Find a train route and times by Hyperdia & Jorudan

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