Tokyo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. But if you’re looking for something different from the neon-lit skyscrapers and crowded shopping districts, consider exploring Shitamachi Museum. This unique museum takes visitors on a journey back in time to see how Tokyo’s working class used to live. With its nostalgic displays and charming exhibits, Shitamachi Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in Japanese history and culture.
What does shitamachi mean?
If you take the words shita and machi, the literal translation of shitamachi would be “downtown;” however, the meaning it holds in Japanese is entirely different. Whereas the English word “downtown” refers to a highly commercial area, shitamachi refers to districts that retain a nostalgic charm, preserving the feel of the Showa (1926-1989) and Taisho (1912-1926) eras.
Originally, shitamachi referred to Tokyo’s flatlands whose residents mostly consisted of the working class. This included craftsmen, sailors, fishermen, and merchants. The shita in shitamachi—meaning “down” or “low”—also referred to the district’s position in relation to Yamanote, the highlands of Tokyo where the more affluent resided.
Today, shitamachi connotes nostalgia rather than class, and the districts of Asakusa, Yanaka, and Shibamata are often used as representative examples.
Exploring the Shitamachi Museum
The Shitamachi Museum consists of two floors.
Exhibits on the First Floor
The first floor replicates a narrow alleyway during the Taisho era, crowded with tenement houses called nagaya in Japanese. You’ll find a merchant’s house selling dagashi (cheap candies and snacks), a geta sandal maker’s house, and a small shrine among others. The museum often modifies these displays to reflect the current season.
Exhibits on the Second Floor
Getting out of the elevator, the first thing that greets you on the second floor are the wooden windows that overlook Shinobazu Pond. From here, you will find a series of exhibits that range from classic toys and games to videos and photographs of how Tokyo has changed over the years. My personal favorite is a section that shows the living room and kitchen of a small home, complete with an old television and a sewing machine. Growing up, my grandmother had a sewing machine of the same model, and it filled me with both joy and longing for a much simpler time.
Many of the items displayed on display at Shitamachi Museum are donated by residents of Taito Ward. The fact these items were loved and used in daily life by real people adds a sense of realism to the museum’s collection.
How to Get to Shitamachi Museum
Shitamachi Museum (下町風俗資料館, Shitamachi Fūzoku Shiryōkan)
Located in: Ueno Park
Business Hours: 09:30 to 4:30, closed on Mondays
Admission Fee: ¥300
Official Website
Discount Ticket for Shitamachi Museum
Taito Wards sells a special ticket where you can visit 5 cultural museums for ¥1,000
| Museums | -Shitamachi Museum -Asakura Museum of Sculpture -Ichiyo Memorial Museum -Former Tokyo Music School Sogakudo -Calligraphy Museu |
|---|---|
| Price | ¥1,000 (You save ¥900) |
| Validity Period | 1 year from date of purchase |
| Where to Buy | -Sales counter of the museums mentioned above -Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center -Shop Taitou, 1F Taito Ward Office -Cultural Promotion Division, 9F Taito Ward Office -Art & Culture Foundation of Taito (Act) |
