Minato City Folk History Museum Summer Exhibition 2026: 'A Guide to Edo Jobs – Working at Sea, Trading in Towns and Daimyo Mansions' Opens July 18 (Sat)

During the Edo period, the coastal area of Minato—where the Tōkaidō highway connected Kyoto and Osaka to Edo—was home to a diverse range of workers. Among them were fishermen, laborers who transported goods by boat or ox, people working at teahouses frequented by travelers, and others who provided services to the samurai class.

This exhibition introduces various occupations related to the sea, the Tōkaidō highway, and samurai residences, using ukiyo-e prints and historical documents depicting workers. Discover jobs that still exist today, those similar to modern ones, and others that have since disappeared.

▼ Exhibition Flyer

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Exhibition Posters:

"Famous Places of Eastern Capital: Evening View of Takanawa" (c. 1830–1844, Tenpō era)

"Thirty-Six Views of the Eastern Capital: Morning Mist at Zojo-ji" (1861, Bunkyū era)

Exhibition Period

July 18 (Saturday) – September 23 (Wednesday, National Holiday), Reiwa 8

Venue

Special Exhibition Room, Minato City Folk History Museum (4-6-2 Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, within Yukashino Mori)

Opening Hours

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (until 8:00 PM on Saturdays only)

※ Admission closes 30 minutes before closing time

Closed Days

August 20 and September 17 (both Thursdays)

Admission Fee

Adults: 200 yen (160 yen for groups of 10 or more)

Elementary, Junior, and Senior High School Students: 100 yen (80 yen for groups)

※ Combined ticket with permanent exhibition: Adults 400 yen (320 yen), Students 100 yen (80 yen)

※ Admission is free for elementary, junior, and senior high school students residing or enrolled in Minato City, Minato City residents aged 65 and over, and persons with disabilities living in Minato City along with one caregiver (proof required).

Official Website

Folk History Museum Homepage

https://www.minato-rekishi.com/exhibition/edo-work.html