Shitamachi Museum (Shitamachi Fuzoku Shiryokan)

Frommer's Review

Shitamachi means "downtown" and refers to the area of Tokyo in which commoners used to live, mainly around Ueno and Asakusa. Today there's very little left of old downtown Tokyo, and with that in mind, the Shitamachi Museum seeks to preserve for future generations a way of life that was virtually wiped out by the great earthquake of 1923 and World War II. Shops are set up as they may have looked back then, including a merchant's shop and a candy shop, as well as one of the shitamachi tenements common at the turn of the 20th century. These tenements -- long, narrow buildings with one roof over a series of dwelling units separated by thin wooden walls -- were the homes of the poorer people. The tenements' narrow back alleyways served as communal living rooms. The museum also displays some personal effects of these residents, including utensils, toys, costumes, and tools, most of which you can pick up and examine more closely. Individuals, many living in shitamachi, donated all the museum's holdings. This museum is small (you can see everything in about 30 min.) and is recommended only if you don't have time to see the better Edo-Tokyo Museum or Fukagawa Edo Museum.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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