Fukagawa Edo Museum
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 authentic. Some people compare it to the Shitamachi Museum in Ueno. The eras they examine are different, though.
As you walk through the museum, the lighting changes. That is because the village has accelerated twenty-four-hour time. You’ll experience morning till night in forty-five minutes! It’s all thanks to lighting and sound effects.
It might be daytime with the shutters on the ceiling open, letting in light when you walk in. Then when night comes, the shutters close, and it becomes dark. The moon might appear, and there are even rainstorms!
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!
Special exhibits are next to the permanent displays. They change regularly. It was about manga on my last visit.
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 speak well, while others are learning.
Fukagawa Edo Museum photo tips
- 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 is 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.
Nearby photo spots
- Eitai Bridge (great for night long exposure photos)
- 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:
Train access
Kiyosumi-Shirakawa on the Hanzomon Metro and Toei Oedo Lines.
The A3 exit is closest to the museum.
Opening hours
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with last admission at 4:30 p.m.)
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.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
More museum articles:
External related articles:
- Fukagawa Edo Museum (official website)