TOKYO

Koto-ku Fukagawa Edo Museum

Dive into Daily Life in the Heart of Old Edo

A fully immersive experience where Edo-period streets, sounds, and stories come to life.

Culture & Arts Experience & Activities

Discover what everyday Tokyo looked and felt like nearly two centuries ago.

The Koto-ku Fukagawa Edo Museum in Koto City offers one of Tokyo’s most engaging windows into the past: a meticulously recreated streetscape from the late Edo period, during the Tenpō era (around 1840), built at full scale and designed to be walked through, explored, and experienced. More than a conventional museum, it serves as both a cultural institution and a community hub, preserving Edo-period history while hosting lectures, performances, and local events. If you are interested in Japanese history – or simply looking for an immersive cultural experience – this museum offers an accessible journey into the world of old Edo.

The heart of the museum is its life-size reconstruction of Fukagawa Saga-cho, a merchant district situated along the waterways of Edo. Here, you can wander narrow alleys lined with shops, storehouses, and row houses, each faithfully recreated based on historical records. Merchant homes display tools of the trade; small workshops show daily crafts; and shared living spaces reveal how families and neighbors once interacted. Unlike typical exhibitions, the Koto-ku Fukagawa Edo Museum actively invites guests to step inside the buildings, open sliding doors, examine objects, and take a close look at everyday utensils used at the time. It’s a tactile, hands-on environment ideal for curious travelers of all ages.

Atmospheric sound and lighting effects further enhance the experience by simulating the passage of a full day, from the soft glow of morning to the warm lantern-lit evenings of Edo. These subtle shifts allow you to imagine how the city changed as people worked, rested, and prepared their homes against the elements. Staff and volunteers are often present to explain architectural details, daily customs, and the stories behind individual structures.

In addition to its immersive display, the museum includes a small theater and recreation hall that host special exhibitions, community events, and cultural programs. These activities provide further insight into the traditions, performing arts, and daily rhythms of Edo residents, enriching the overall experience.
The Koto-ku Fukagawa Edo Museum is easily reachable from central Tokyo, with a 3-minute walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station on the Toei Edo Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line. It is an excellent addition to any itinerary, especially if you are seeking a deeper understanding of how the capital evolved from its early urban roots to the modern metropolis it is today.

Photo courtesy of Koto-ku Fukagawa Edo Museum

Address

1-3-28 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo

Phone number

+81-3-3630-8625

Business hours

Exhibition Rooms: 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.)
Small Theater / Recreation Hall: 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Reception Desk: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Holiday

2nd and 4th Mondays (open if the day falls on a public holiday)
Year-end/New Year holidays (Dec. 29–Jan. 3)
※On Jan. 2 and 3, only the Exhibition Rooms are open for the “New Year Special Opening.”
Temporary closures may occur for facility inspections or exhibition changes.

WEB site

https://www.kcf.or.jp/fukagawa/

Digital Map