Shitamachi literally means as “downtown”, but the nuance is somewhat lost in translation. Historically, it was used to refer to the low-lying lands around the Sumida River, but the word has become an umbrella term for the way of life during the Edo period. The Shitamachi Museum showcases this shitamachi life. It also contains a reconstruction of a typical nagaya (“long house”) in which a merchant might have lived.
Address
2-1 Ueno-koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007
Directions
5 minutes from the Shinobazu Exit of JR Ueno Station (the museum is inside Ueno Park)
Hours
9:30-16:30. Closed on Tuesdays
Cost
Adults ¥300 | Children ¥100
Website