TOKYO

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

Step back in time and walk through Tokyo’s past at this fascinating open-air museum

Explore a collection of preserved houses, shops, and public buildings that trace the evolution of Tokyo’s architecture and daily life from the Edo to the Showa period.

Culture & Arts Temples & Shrines Nature & Views

Access

A rare opportunity to experience the city’s architectural history in an immersive, outdoor setting.

Located in Koganei Park in western Tokyo, the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum was established to preserve structures threatened by redevelopment or decay. The museum exhibits historically and culturally important buildings from the early Edo period (1650s) to the mid Showa period (1950s). Each building has been carefully relocated and reconstructed to form a “recreated townscape” that tells the story of Tokyo’s transformation from a feudal capital to a modern metropolis.

The museum is organized into three main zones – West, Center, and East – each representing a various era and aspect of life. The West Zone features a range of homes from traditional thatched-roof farmhouses to postwar residences, showcasing rural architecture, agricultural life, and changes in lifestyle. In the Center Zone, you will find prestigious historical buildings of the early 1900s and a tearoom, while in the East Zone, you can enjoy the atmosphere of old Tokyo Shitamachi, strolling among shops, inn, and a sento public bathhouse.

Among the most notable buildings are the Tokiwadai Photo Studio, a nostalgic reminder of pre-war portrait photography; the Former Takahashi Korekiyo Residence, once home to Japan’s prime minister; the “Kodakara-yu” Public Bathhouse and the House of Georg de Lalande, a beautifully designed Western-style residence now hosting a cozy café serving coffee and food. Walking through the museum feels like moving through different centuries: each street, façade, and interior is carefully restored. Most of the exhibits can be entered and explored, so remember to wear shoes that can be easily slipped on and off. The museum is located within the large Koganei Park, and is surrounded by lush greenery, making it an extremely peaceful and immersive experience. The effect is something like time travel, as the atmosphere and details transport you directly into Tokyo’s past.

All photos courtesy of Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

Address

3-7-1 Sakuracho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo (Inside Tokyo Metropolitan Koganei Park)

Access Information

The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is easily accessible from central Tokyo: it’s a short bus ride from Musashi-Koganei on the JR Chuo Line. Don’t miss this opportunity if you are an architecture enthusiast or just curious about everyday life in past Tokyo.

Phone number

+81-42-388-3300 (Main line)

Business hours

April–September: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
October–March: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national or substitute holiday), and during the year-end/New Year holidays.

WEB site

https://www.tatemonoen.jp/english/

Digital Map