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Fukagawa Edo Museum is for Edo lovers
The Fukagawa Edo Museum is for Japanese history lovers. But it isn’t about the samurai or ninjas. It is about medieval village life on the banks of a canal. You’d be correct in thinking it is something different because it is.
Many people know the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku. That place is enormous. It shows Tokyo’s history from when the city was known as Edo.
The Fukagawa-Edo is different. Comparatively, it is tiny. And it only looks at life in a village next to a canal near the Sumida river around 1840. That is it. Every building and object is of that place and that time.
In the permanent exhibit area are a village and a partial canal. It is complete with a boat, a fire watchtower, alleys, businesses, and houses. They all contain common implements from the period. An animatronic cat even purrs at you from a rooftop!
Considering all the exhibits, it is excellent. It is very authentic. Some people compare it to the Shitamachi Museum in Ueno. The eras they examine are different, though.
As you walk through, you’ll notice the lighting changes. That is because the village has accelerated twenty-four-hour time. So you’ll be able to experience morning till night in forty-five minutes! It’s all thanks to lighting and sound effects.
When you walk in, it might be daytime with the shutters on the ceiling open, letting in light. Then when night comes, the shutters close, and it becomes pretty dark. The moon might even appear, and there are rainstorms too!
The exhibits have everything. In one of the shops, you’ll find all sorts of vegetables on display. And in another place, you’ll find grains, and yet in another, you’ll find a stall selling tempura. It would be great if they had real stuff on sale there!
Next to the permanent displays are the special exhibits. They change regularly. On my last visit, it was all about manga.
Like some museums in Tokyo, there isn’t a lot of signage in English. Anything written about the displays is minimal. That is a pity, but it is Japan. So, if you have any questions, you’ll need to ask one of the guides.
The guides’ English levels can vary. Some of them speak pretty well, while others are still learning. (Note: due to the pandemic, there are no guide activities).
Photography tips for the Fukagawa Edo Museum
- If you have a camera that handles low-light situations well, there will be no issues. But, if you don’t, getting good pictures will be problematic. In some areas, the museum can get very dark.
- Furthermore, I suspect the museum mixes light types in the permanent exhibit area. That makes it hard to get the correct white balance (that has been my experience). Usually, I play with both the temp and tint sliders in Lightroom to get it right.
Other photo spots near the Fukagawa Museum
- Eitai Bridge (great for long exposure photos at night)
- Kiba Park
- Kiyosumi Gardens
- Sumida Hokusai Museum
- Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall
Where is the Fukagawa Edo Museum?
Address: 1-3-28 Shirakawa, Koto City, Tokyo
Here it is on a Google map:
Closest train station:
Kiyosumi-Shirakawa on the Hanzomon Metro and Toei Oedo Lines.
The A3 exit is closest to the museum.
Opening hours
9:30 am to 5 pm (with last admission at 4:30 pm)
Closed:
- 2nd and 4th Monday every month.
- December 29 to January 3
Entry costs
¥400
Conclusion
The Fukagawa Edo Museum is excellent. It mightn’t have any swords and armor, but fans of the Edo period will love it. It can teach you all about the daily life of the time.
I recommend getting a guide; else, you’ll miss a lot. Leave questions and comments below.
External related articles:
- Fukagawa Edo Museum (official website)
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