Edo Tokyo Museum

February 28, 2013

Edo Tokyo Museum

Win free tickets to the 20th-anniversary event

By

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2013

A daunting three-story escalator whisks you away from modern-day Tokyo and plants you at the historic Nihonbashi, which serves as “Kilometer Zero” for Japan (the point from which highway distance signs are measured). Your time travel back to old Edo is complete with a trek across this impressive full-scale replica of the original wooden bridge completed in 1608. With more than 2,000 daily visitors, the Tokyo Metropolitan Edo Tokyo Museum uses both historical artifacts and hands-on exhibits to guide and educate visitors through the transition from traditional Edo to ultra-modern Tokyo.

An old-style fire fighter, an aristocrat or a daimyo are just some of the characters you can become by hoisting a firefighting unit standard or riding in a noble’s carriage. The museum also illustrates the step-by-step process of creating an ukiyo-e block print, the dominant art form of the time. Further on, the museum brings you closer to what we know as modern day Tokyo with featured replicas of the very first skyscrapers and commercially available cars. You can even ride a rickshaw and the first bicycle model to be mass-produced in Japan.

The museum cleverly guides you through the ages while reminding you that the spirit of the Edo period is still alive even in what we now know as the Tokyo metropolis.

EDO TOKYO MUSEUM 20th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

  • Katsushika Hokusai Exhibit, March 15-31
    Poster Exhibit, March 19-31
  • Rakugo Performance, March 23. 2-4:30pm. ¥1,000 (adv). http://eplus.jp
  • Extended Museum Hours: Live Exhibits, March 23. 6-9pm
  • Kabuki Dance, March 24. 2-4:30pm. ¥1,000 (adv). http://eplus.jp
  • Screening of Movies from the Showa Period, March 26-27. From 6pm. ¥1,000 (adv). http://eplus.jp
  • Anniversary Symposium, March 28. 3-5:30pm

The Edo Tokyo Museum is offering ten Metropolis readers a free pair of tickets for the Anniversary Symposium. Contact: events@metropolis.co.jp. Edo Tokyo Museum. 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo. www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english

EDO TOKYO TATEMONO-EN

From acts of nature like earthquakes and floods to acts of man such as fires and air raids, Tokyo has seen its fair share of disasters—regrettably resulting in the destruction of many historically significant works of architecture (not to mention human life). Expansion and development further threaten these buildings, so the Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum provides a haven for such history. Here, traditional architecture from the Edo period to the 20th century is preserved in its original, functional state on their enormous grounds.
A 20% discount coupon for regular admission is available on the homepage: www.edohaku-20th.jp.

TATEMONE-EN 20th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

  • Anniversary Symposium, March 23. 2-4:30pm
  • “Dai” Architectural Exercise Game, March 23. 11am-12:30pm; 2-3:30pm
  • Family Jazz Concert, March 24. Noon-1pm; 2-3pm
  • “Ai no Tesan” Family Concert, March 25. 1:30-2:30pm; 3:30-4:15pm
  • Bonnet Bus Rides, March 26. 11am-3pm
  • Shopping Game, March 27. 11am-3pm
  • Daidengaku, March 28. 2-3:30pm
  • Daidogei Performances, March 28-29. 11am-4pm
  • Food Trucks, March 23-29. 11:30am-5:30pm
  • Tokyo Tatemono-en. 3-7-1 Sakura-cho, Koganei, Tokyo. Tel: 042-388-3300.
  • http://tatemonoen.jp/english/index

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, both Edo Tokyo Museum and Tatemono-en are presenting a series of events at the end of March—as well as providing free admission to the museums on March 28.