Satimati Museum
The Satimachi Museum tells the story of the lives of poor Tokyo residents living in Shitamachi (Lower Town) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, hence the name of the museum. It is located in Ueno Park, near Shinobazu Pond. Visitors can see an old, almost gone Japan. Having been here, you can feel the unique flavor that envelops this unique country.
History of the Satimati Museum
In those days, when the city of Edo (as Tokyo was called until 1868) began to expand rapidly, it was divided into two parts. Rich people and nobles settled in the northwest. The southeastern part, where the poor settled, was located below the other, which is why the place was nicknamed the Lower City. Here, representatives of the “lower class” lived in cramped one-story buildings for several families. These included craftsmen and traders, fishermen and sailors. The houses were pressed closely together. In 1923, Shitamachi was severely damaged by an earthquake. The surviving remains of the buildings were destroyed as a result of bombing during the Second World War. After the war, the territory of the Lower Town began to be built up with modern high-rise buildings.
In order to preserve the flavor of the Lower Town, at least in a museum to show descendants the real Japan - living conditions, clothing and utensils of that time, it was decided to create the Shitamachi Museum. It was opened in 1980 with the support of local residents, who actively helped collect the collection of exhibits literally bit by bit. Most of them were descendants of those who lived in the Lower City. As a result, visitors to the Shitamachi Museum can fully immerse themselves in the distinct flavor of sparse Tokyo a century ago. They can see the facades of houses and shops of that time, go inside, literally touch clothes and utensils with their hands. This is exactly what every tourist who comes to Japan wants.
Exposure
The exhibits of the Satimachi Museum are located on two floors: on the lower floor, a Tokyo street with shops, workshops of artisans, small houses of the Lower City is recreated, all of this is made in life size. To the right of the entrance is the workshop of a craftsman who makes Japanese geta clogs. In front of the house there is a handcart and a rickshaw carriage.
On the left is a two-family apartment building. In one half live a mother and daughter who sell inexpensive sweets in a shop adjacent to the house. In the other half lives a coppersmith who makes utensils to order and for sale. Next to the house there is a reconstructed well and an original washboard. On the second floor of the Sachimachi Museum, the interiors of residential premises of the Meiji and Taisho periods are presented with household items, utensils and clothing typical of that era. Interestingly, the exhibits may change depending on the time of year. So, in winter, warm clothes are displayed, and in autumn, umbrellas from the rain. There are children's toys, dolls, board and card games, as well as works of art, historical documents and artifacts. You can even see what a small sento bath looks like.
