In Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, you can explore the town of Osaka in the late Edo period that was replicated to the actual size. Best of all, you can also rent kimono for a small fee and dress in it while strolling the streets!
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living can be easily reached by taking Hankyu or subway to Tenjimbashisuji6-chome station exit No.3. Just take the lift to 8th floor and you’ll be at the entrance of the museum. The entrance fee is 600 yen per person. However it is free with Osaka Amazing Pass holder for regular exhibition. The opening time is 10am to 5pm (last entrance 4.30pm), it is closed on Tuesdays.
First, we began the tour at 10th floor, where we could look down at the actual life-size reproduction of Osaka town in Edo period below. There is also a layout map to show what buildings are reconstructed in the town.
This is how the town looks like from above. The tall tower is a fire lookout tower.
What amazed me is the entire town is housed inside a high-rise building! To enter the town we have to go to 9th floor.
Exhibit Hall 1 shows how the town was like in Edo period (1830s).
Before we started exploring the town, we bought tickets for kimono experience (500 yen) from a ticket machine and waited for our number to be called before changing into kimono. There are some rules to rent the kimono: you can wear it for 30 minutes, you may not go to any other floor with the kimono on except for 9th floor and you have to take care of your own belongings. There are lockers provided for bags and coats. Please note that kimono rental is only until 4pm.
Yay, now we are all set to explore the Edo period town.
Some areas are prohibited to enter.
And you will have take off your shoes or slippers before entering some part of the building.
Interior of a house during Edo period.
This looks like the kitchen area.
There are even some cute dogs in the streets for you to pat. Too bad they aren’t real. These are actually native Japanese dogs.
Plenty of photo opportunities around. This is a lion made out of wedding accessories.
This is a fabric shop.
A book store.
Edo period drawings.
A doll shop selling figurines.
This is a bathhouse. There is a theatre inside where you can watch the images of Osaka during 1830s with subtitles in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. The schedule of screening is every 45 minutes starting from 10.10am. The last show is at 4.10pm.
This is a cosmetic shop selling vanity stuff like comb and hair ribbons.
A typical Japanese house setting in Edo period.
There is also a small shrine nearby.
With this, our 30 minutes is up and it’s time to return the kimono.
The 8th floor of the museum shows miniature scale models of Osaka during the Meiji, Taisho and Showa Period (1868 – 1950).
In this scale model, you can see the Tsutenkaku and Luna Park. It was the tallest structure in the Orient at that time.
When Tsutenkaku tower was first built in 1912, its height was 75 meters. The current Tsutenkaku tower was rebuilt after World War II.
Here we can see the household items in post-war period and how Osaka expanded and developed during this time.
Miniature model of old merchant’s shop.
Last but not least, keep the museum ticket after your visit. You can receive various discounts and privilege when you visit shops nearby.
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
Entrance fee: 600 yen (adult), 300 yen (student), free admission for Osaka Amazing Pass holder for regular exhibition
Opening time: 10am to 5pm (last entrance 4.30pm), closed on Tuesdays.
Access: Hankyu and subway line Tenjimbashisuji6-chome station exit No.3
Website: http://konjyakukan.com/
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