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A museum famous for serving as a filming location for TV shows and movies, where visitors can experience the Meiji era.
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.
The SL12 steam engine locomotive (please check the operation in advance)
St. John’s Church during cherry blossom season
Meiji-style sukiyaki (served at Gyunabe Oi Gyunikuten)
Brick street in Area 2
Partially translated by AI.
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.
