Thursday, February 8, 2007

15. Museum Review: Fukagawa Edo Museum (Koto-ku)

The Fukagawa Edo Museum is actually a reproduction of 19th century riverside Edo. Visitors can walk around the narrow 'streets', exploring the shops and homes as they go. It is not a large museum, but it a good way to get a feel for what life was like many years ago in Tokyo.


A large screen on one wall changes colors to imitate different times of the day, mostly sunset. All of the structures can be entered, many of the props inside can be picked up and examined. There is no information in English, but this is not a problem as most of the exhibits are self explanatory.

This is not a museum you can spend the day in, more like an hour. It is, however, located in a part of town that most foreigners never visit. If you decide to visit, wander the main street as it is very quaint. It is even better in September when they hold a scarecrow contest.

Other sightseeing spots nearby include the Kiyosumi Teien (garden) and MOT (the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo). Both have been reviewed on this site.

Address: 1-3-28 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, 135-0021
Tel: 03-3630-8625

Admission: Adults: 300 yen, Jr. high and Elementary School Students: 50 yen.
*No admission allowed to children not accompanied by adults.

Hours of Operation: 9:30 - 17:00 (last entry at 16:30), closed the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month (closed the next day if it is a national holiday). It is also closed around the year end, for changes to the exhibition - 6/12 - 16, and 2/13 - 15, and random maintenance days.

Access: By train - 3 minute walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station (Toei Oedo Line & Hanzomon Line)

Website (Japanese only): http://www.kcf.or.jp/index2.html

**Free entry with Grutt Pass 2007 (#42)

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