Description of the attraction
The futuristic building of the Edo-Tokyo History Museum actually contains the features of an old warehouse building, and inside the museum is a wealth of evidence of life in the Japanese capital that once bore the name of Edo. The museum was opened relatively recently - in March 1993. The height of the museum building is 62.2 meters, the same height was at the ancient Edo castle.
The city was founded in 1590 by the ruler and commander Ieyasu Tokugawa, and in 1868, due to the relocation of Emperor Mutsuhito from Kyoto, it was renamed Tokyo and received the status of the new capital of Japan.
Actually, the main exposition of the museum is devoted to two main periods in the history of the capital - the Edo period and the Tokyo period. Here you can see how a fishing village has evolved into a modern, high-tech and densely populated metropolis.
In the section of the museum dedicated to the Edo era, visitors enter through a copy of the famous Nihonbashi Bridge, which in ancient times served as the "zero" kilometer - all distances in the country were counted from it. Also in this section of the exposition are presented copies and models of city houses, kabuki theaters, as well as a model of Edo castle, more than 2,500 original manuscripts and scrolls, clothing, geographical maps, artisan tools, things of noble citizens and much more. With the help of these exhibits, you can learn about how shoguns, warriors and ordinary people lived several centuries ago.
The Tokyo section contains examples of mid-19th century technology, documents and objects from the Meiji period, World War II, evidence of the Great Kanto Earthquake, and the impact of the European world on traditional Japanese culture. Here you can find out what the famous Japanese radio electronics was like at its very beginning, in the 50s of the last century.
The museum has many interactive exhibits, and at the end of the visit, guests are shown a film about modern Tokyo and the inhabitants of the capital.
The Edo-Tokyo History Museum is located in the Ryogoku area, next to it is the Ryogoku Kokugikan National Stadium, where sumo competitions are held.
