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