Shinagawa Historical Museum
 The Shinagawa Historical Museum is a municipal history museum with two main themes: one on Dr. Edward S. Morse and the Omori shell mounds, which are remains of the Jomon period, and the other on the Tokaido road and Shinagawa-shuku (ancient post station) in the Edo period. The museum has permanent exhibitions on the history of Shinagawa City, from prehistoric and ancient times to modern times, which are easy to understand. In addition, there is a special exhibition held in October, a themed exhibition in February, and various small exhibits displayed in the corners of the museum on an ongoing basis. The museum has a traditional Japanese tearoom, a drawing room, a Japanese-style garden, and a library.
On the first floor, there is a model of Shinagawa-shuku's hotel-lined street, a specimen from a stratum of the Omori shell mounds, and other exhibits that present the history of Shinagawa, from prehistoric and ancient times to the Edo period. An additional attraction is a movie entitled Ukiyo-e Shinagawa Kiko that is shown on a large screen. Also, there is a modern exhibition that focuses on the industry and urbanization of Shinagawa City.
The garden has a grassy area in the center with vegetation that makes the area colorful with each season and a stone basin buried upside-down in the ground, called suikinkutsu, that makes delightful harp-like sounds from the echoes of water drops falling within it.
On the second floor, there is the Dr. Morse Corner, which has exhibits on Dr. Edward S. Morse and items discovered at the Omori shell mounds that anyone can understand. Dr. Morse was an American zoologist who came to Japan for biological research and excavated the Omori shell mounds.
The site of the Omori shell mounds was turned into Omori Shell Mounds Park (6-21-6 Oi), which is a five-minute walk from the Shinagawa Historical Museum.
Note: There is a pamphlet in English that summarizes information on the historical museum and on Dr. Morse and the Omori shell mounds. Furthermore, there are 30 different explanation sheets (in Japanese only) that cover the Shinagawa Historical Museum's permanent exhibition. The explanations are thorough and easy to understand.
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Special Exhibition at the Shinagawa Historical Museum—Shinagawa Odaiba
With the arrival of Commodore Matthew C. Perry in 1853, the shogunate constructed odaiba (cannon batteries) offshore of Shinagawa as a defense base in Edo Bay. This special exhibition will spotlight the design and construction procedures of Shinagawa Odaiba, which served as a major stage of the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Dates: October 9 (Sun.) through November 23 (Wed., national holiday)
Admission: ¥300 for adults and ¥100 for elementary and junior high school students
Note: Free of charge for students of Shinagawa City municipal elementary and junior high schools, those who are 70 years of age or older, and those who are disabled
Closed: Mondays and on October 11 (Tue.) |
Shinagawa Historical Museum
Web site (Japanese only):www.city.shinagawa.tokyo.jp/jigyo/06/historyhp/hsindex.html
Facility Information
Admission: ¥100 for adults, ¥50 for elementary and junior high school students
Notes:
1. Free of charge for Shinagawa municipal elementary school and junior high school students, senior citizens who are 70 years of age or older, and those who are disabled
2. Admission fees are different when special exhibitions are held.
Address: 6-11-1 Oi
How to get there: A one-minute walk from the Kashima Jinja-mae bus stop (take the Tokyu Bus bound for Ikegami Station or Kamata Station from the west exit of Oimachi Station on the Keihin Tohoku Line, Tokyu Oimachi Line, or Rinkai Line) or a 10-minute walk from Omori Station on the Keihin Tohoku Line
Tel: 3777-4060
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Admission until 4:30 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays, national holidays (if a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the museum will be open; if a national holiday falls on a Monday, the museum will be closed on the following day as well), and during the year-end/New Year holidays
Note: There are times when the museum will be closed to change exhibitions, etc.
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