What to know
The Edo-Tokyo Museum (江戸東京博物館, Edo Tōkyō Hakubutsukan) occupies a strikingly designed building in the Ryogoku district. Its permanent exhibition vividly traces Tokyo's past—known as Edo until 1869—from the Edo Period (1603–1868) through recent decades. It is the city's premier destination for learning about Tokyo's history.
Visitors can interactively explore various aspects of old Tokyo, including daily life, Edo-period architecture, cultural heritage, politics, commerce, and transportation. Full-scale reconstructions, detailed town models, figurines, and life-sized figures make it fascinating to see how towns were built in the past.
The museum offers plenty of photo opportunities, such as vintage vehicles and historical items. QR codes let visitors turn their smartphones into audioguides, and volunteer guides speaking English and other languages are available.
In addition to the permanent exhibition, special exhibitions on Tokyo-related themes are held periodically. The museum also has a sister museum in Tokyo's western suburbs, the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum, which preserves several historic buildings.
The Edo-Tokyo Museum is less than a five-minute walk from Ryogoku Station.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:30 to 17:30 (until 19:30 on Saturdays)
- Closed
- Mondays (or following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year holidays
- Admission
- 800 yen (~$5.12) (separate, varying fees apply for special exhibitions)
- English name
- Edo Tokyo Museum
- Original name
- Edo-Tokyo Museum
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.