Nihon Minkaen Open Air Museum

Nihon Minkaen (日本民家園) is an open-air museum located in Kawasaki City, offering visitors a rare chance to explore 25 historic buildings that date back to the Edo Period (1603-1868). These structures have been carefully relocated from various regions across Japan, allowing for a deep dive into traditional Japanese architecture and lifestyles. The museum features a diverse collection of buildings, including gasshozukuri farmhouses from Shirakawago, merchant houses, samurai residences, post-town homes, and fishing village houses. Additionally, there’s a shrine and even a kabuki stage, each offering a glimpse into the daily lives of different social classes during the Edo period.

Beyond the historical buildings, Nihon Minkaen provides an immersive experience through hands-on cultural activities. Visitors can participate in workshops such as indigo dyeing, where they can create their own dyed handkerchief or traditional shop curtain for a small fee. On Sundays, the museum hosts live demonstrations of traditional crafts, including straw weaving, cloth weaving, and bamboo craft. The museum also celebrates seasonal cultural events, like rice cake pounding, folk storytelling, and vibrant lion dances. A small folk museum displays tools and instruments from the feudal era, and visitors can enjoy a meal at a soba restaurant housed in one of the museum’s charming farmhouses.