About
When you pass through the doors of the Fukagawa Edo Museum, you find yourself in Fukagawa Sagacho at the end of the Edo period, brought to life. The townscape, spreading out in a high, open space, seems as if it is welcoming a traveler who has crossed time and space. As you walk along the stone-paved road, greengrocers, rice pounders, and boat inns line the street, with fresh vegetables and sacks of rice displayed in front of the shops. The shopkeepers’ lively voices seem almost audible, as every detail is reproduced with remarkable precision.
Passing through the alleys, you enter a residential area lined with row houses. In this space, where you can catch a glimpse of the lives of ordinary people, you are able to actually step inside the homes and touch the household tools. Sitting on the tatami mats and gathering around the hearth, you can almost feel the warmth and breath of the people of that time.
At the center of the town stands a fire lookout tower about ten meters tall. In the square below, traditional performing arts passed down from the Edo period are showcased, delighting visitors. In addition, seasonal displays such as Hina dolls and moon-viewing decorations are held, allowing you to experience the atmosphere of Edo’s changing seasons.
The museum uses sound and lighting effects to recreate the passage of a day, letting you feel the flow of time from the refreshing light of morning, to the crimson hues of dusk, and finally the stillness of night. You are enveloped in the sensation of having slipped back in time to the streets of Edo.
The Fukagawa Edo Museum is a valuable place where you can experience the culture and daily life of Edo, conveying the humanity and spirit of the people of that era to visitors. The time spent here is a luxurious opportunity to forget the bustle of the modern world and immerse yourself in the charm of Edo.