Museum Meiji Mura Village

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Museum Meiji Mura Village

A museum famous for serving as a filming location for TV shows and movies, where visitors can experience the Meiji era.

4.30 5

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This open-air museum first opened its doors in 1965, the artistically and historically valuable buildings, including 11 important cultural properties, mostly from the Meiji period, were relocated, preserved, and exhibited here.

One of the most popular is the “Imperial Hotel Front Entrance,” designed by famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was completed in 1923 and features lots of beautiful geometric carving and decorative terra cotta. Also, St. John’s Church, an important cultural property, as well as the great Meiji-era writers’ residences, such as the house of Mori Ogai and Natsume Soseki, and the “Kagyuan,” the residence of Koda Rohan. The buildings themselves are already worth seeing, but the furniture and furnishings retain the atmosphere of the Meiji era.

Since there is so much to see, a full day would not be enough time to tour the entire village, visitors may want to pick spots based on their own interests. It takes about three and a half hours just to visit the important cultural properties, and about two hours to see the architecture related to the Meiji era’s great figures. Inside the village, the retro steam engine locomotives (please check the operation in advance), the Kyoto Streetcar, and the Village Buses run for visitors.

Meiji-style specialty foods are also highlights, such as gyunabe (Meiji-style sukiyaki), omelet rice and hashed beef rice from a Western-style restaurant, and croquettes and curry buns based on recipes from Meiji-era novels.

Highlights

  • Visitors can admire the artistically and historically valuable Meiji-era buildings.
  • The premises are so vast with over 60 cultural properties that a full day may not be enough to see the entire village.
  • Retro Meiji-style specialty foods are also available.
  • Visitors can rent Meiji-style dresses and hakamas (pants-style kimono) and take commemorative photos that look like they are from the Meiji-era.

Photos

  • The SL12 steam engine locomotive (please check the operation in advance)

    The SL12 steam engine locomotive (please check the operation in advance)

  • St. John’s Church during cherry blossom season

    St. John’s Church during cherry blossom season

  • Meiji-style sukiyaki (served at Gyunabe Oi Gyunikuten)

    Meiji-style sukiyaki (served at Gyunabe Oi Gyunikuten)

  • Brick street in Area 2

    Brick street in Area 2

Reviews

5

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  • If you love the history and artistic atmosphere of Japan's Meiji era, it's really worth spending a whole day here!

    Many valuable buildings from the Meiji and Taisho periods, including the 'Imperial Hotel,' have been relocated here. You can tour the interiors, try gourmet food recreated from Meiji-era recipes, and even rent period costumes for photos—there are so many ways to enjoy your visit. The grounds are quite large, so I recommend using the steam train, streetcar, or shuttle bus to get around.
    There are other attractions nearby, like the Little World open-air museum and Inuyama Castle, but it's probably best to spend a full day at Meiji Mura without trying to squeeze in too much.

  • It's fascinating to see how Japan embraced Western technology and culture during the Meiji Restoration to become a world power.

  • This place showcases architecture from Japan's Meiji era. A lot of TV dramas have been filmed here too. The area is huge, and you can even ride a vintage steam train around the park.

    The grounds are huge—you'll need a whole day to really take it all in.

Details

Name in Japanese
博物館 明治村
Postal Code
484-0000
Address
1 Uchiyama, Inuyama City, Aichi
Telephone
0568-67-0314
Business Hours
March-July / September / October 9:30am - 5:00pm
August 10:00am - 5:00pm
November 9:30am - 4:00pm
December-February 10:00am - 4:00pm
*Varies depending on the season or event.
Holiday
There are designated closing days during summer and winter.
Admission
Adults 2,500 yen, High school students 1,500 yen, Elementary and middle school students 700 yen
Directions
1) Take the bus from the east exit of Meitetsu Inuyama Line’s Inuyama Station and get off at “Meiji Mura.”
2) From Meitetsu Bus Center or Sakae Bus Terminal (Oasis 21), take a short-distance highway bus and get off at “Meiji Mura.”
Credit Cards
Accepted
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)