Showa Centennial Exhibition at Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum Until June 21

The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei Park is hosting a “Showa 100th Anniversary” special exhibition until Saturday, June 21, 2026. The museum features over 30 relocated and reconstructed historical buildings from the Edo period through the early Showa era, including farmhouses, merchant houses, public baths, and notable residences—some designated Important Cultural Properties. Many interiors are open for direct exploration, and the site is also known as an inspiration source for Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away.

The Showa Centennial Exhibition traces changes in everyday life and architecture from the prewar years through postwar recovery and the high-growth period, using period household goods, appliances, photographs, and explanatory panels. It places particular emphasis on early Showa architecture (1920s–30s), when Japanese design forged a distinctive blend of Western and traditional styles. For those who lived through the Showa era, the exhibition offers nostalgia; for younger visitors, it provides a concrete way to experience an era otherwise known only from history.

Access: From Musashi-Koganei Station on the JR Chuo Line, take a local bus for about 10 minutes to Koganei Park. The park itself has children’s play areas, barbecue zones, and is especially scenic in the fresh greenery of June.

Admission (check the official website for the latest prices): Adults ¥400, Seniors ¥200, University students ¥320. The final day of the special exhibition is Saturday, June 21, 2026. Weekday mornings are generally quieter, making it easier to explore the interiors at a relaxed pace. Visitors are encouraged to experience Showa-era life and architecture firsthand amid the greenery of Koganei Park before the last day arrives.