Edo-Tokyo Museum

We explored the Edo-Tokyo Museum today after class and learned about the history of Tokyo (initially known as Edo) through the centuries from 1590 to 1964 when Tokyo hosted the Olympics. The museum building itself was impressive and resembled a modern torii or shrine entrance gate. Most of the explanations were in Japanese, but there was plenty to look at such as a replica of an old Kabuki (puppet) theater, models of the Edo Castle and a lord's mansion, and a town water well. There was one room that described how Japanese women traditionally gave birth, and another had displays of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the bombing raids of World War II.

We could climb into a man-carrier, sit on an adult tricycle, lift an old gold coin box, and ring a fire alarm. Fighting fires was a big deal during the 1700s where the towns were built of bamboo with buildings close together. Fire fighters had flags that they carried to sound the alarm. The interactive displays made it fun and easy way to spend the rainy afternoon. We got a better understanding of the art, disasters, culture, science, and even architecture of Tokyo.

 

Edo-Tokyo Museum

looking closely at a model of an Edo village

 

  village people- see the man's carrier?

 



ready for a lift in the full-sized man's carrier

 sounding the fire alarm

elaborate, colorful festival cart

riding the adult tricycle- showing the Western influence (1870s)

 

Edo-Tokyo Museum- exhibits on the top floors