Shitamachi Museum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Shitamachi Museum
Established 1980
Location Ueno, Tokyo
Type Traditional Edo Culture
Public transit access JR Yamanote Line, Ueno Station
Website http://www.taitocity.net/taito/shitamachi (in Japanese)

The Shitamachi Museum (Japanese: 下町風俗資料館（したまちふうぞくしりょうかん) Shitamachi Fūzoku Shiryokan?) is a museum in Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Located on the shores of Shinobazu Pond within Ueno Park, it's dedicated to the traditional culture of Tokyo's Shitamachi.

Coordinates of the Museum: 35°42′37″N 139°46′21″E / 35.7102, 139.7726. To display options, click on the coordinates.

Contents

[edit] Historical Background

Shitamachi, term translatable as Low City, is the unofficial name given to the Tokyo flatlands, that is the area of Tokyo going from Taitō-ku to Chiyoda-ku and Chuō-ku[1]. The Shitamachi got its name from the fact that it's the physically low part of the city next to, and particularly east of, the Sumida river[2]. Although not necessarily poor, it was inhabited by Edo's lower classes, including craftsmen, fishermen, sailors and merchants[3]. The area produced most of what was original in Edo's culture and was the entertainment and shopping center of the capital.[4]. What remains of the old Shitamachi can nowadays be found in and around Tokyo's Taito-ku, for example in Asakusa.
The Shitamachi museum is dedicated to explaining this area and its distinctive culture through original artifacts.

[edit] Exhibits

[edit] First Floor

To the right of the entrance there's the life-size replica of a merchant's house, where geta (Japanese-style wooden clogs) are made and sold. In front of the shop are parked a rickshaw and a hand-pulled cart from old Edo.

To the left stands the replica of a small tenement house shared by two families, each owning a shop. On one side are supposed to live a mother and her daughter, who sell cheap sweets in the small shop adjacent their living quarters. On the other lives a coppersmith who both works and sells his wares at home. The well and the washing board next to the house are original items used in Edo times in the Shitamachi. All objects exhibited were donated by the public and were actually used by the original owners during the Taishō period (1912 - 1926).

[edit] Second Floor

The second floor consists of a more varied collection of exhibits. There are toys, dolls, photos, kitchen utensils, board games, card games, plus exhibits related to festivals and other events. There's even the entrance of a public bath (a sentō) donated by the original owner.

[edit] Notes

  • The entrance ticket costs 300 Yen.
  • The museum puts free guides at the disposal of its visitors.
  • Special exhibitions of traditional crafts take place every autumn and spring.
  • The museum is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
  • The museum is closed on Mondays.
  • Phone (only Japanese spoken): 03-3823-7451

[edit] References

  1. ^ Edward Seidensticker: Low City, High City: Tokyo from Edo to the Earthquake: how the shogun's ancient capital became a great modern city, 1867-1923
  2. ^ Edward Seidensticker: Low City, High City: Tokyo from Edo to the Earthquake: how the shogun's ancient capital became a great modern city, 1867-1923
  3. ^ Edward Seidensticker: Low City, High City: Tokyo from Edo to the Earthquake: how the shogun's ancient capital became a great modern city, 1867-1923
  4. ^ Edward Seidensticker: Low City, High City: Tokyo from Edo to the Earthquake: how the shogun's ancient capital became a great modern city, 1867-1923

The rest of the article is based on the leaflet given to visitors at The Shitamachi Museum (English version).

[edit] External Links

[edit] Photo Gallery

Shitamachi Museum, Second Floor

Shitamachi Museum Exhibits

Traditional Japanese Toys

Traditional Japanese Toys