Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum to Host Exhibition 'History and Folklore of Musashino: Musashino Folk Museum Collection 2026' Starting July 18

Exhibition Overview

This exhibition is part of an annual series that introduces materials collected by the Musashino Folk Museum, the predecessor facility of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. The Musashino Folk Museum opened in 1954 (Showa 29) and closed in 1991 (Heisei 3). It operated a display room (now the Visitor Center) for archaeological and folk artifacts and maintained an outdoor exhibition area called the 'Folk Village,' featuring reconstructed buildings from ancient and Edo-period villages. After the museum's closure, a portion of its collection was inherited by the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, where it remains today.

This exhibition will feature archaeological artifacts collected by the Musashino Folk Museum, including the clay earring (late Jomon period, excavated from the Shibusawa Site, designated a National Important Cultural Property), as well as folk items such as vintage shop signs and matchboxes once commonly seen in urban areas. Additionally, photo panels will present the former buildings of the outdoor Folk Village. We hope this exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to learn about the local history museum that once existed on this site.

Exhibition Structure

〈Prologue〉 The Origins of the Musashino Folk Museum

Chapter 1: Musashino Folk Museum Collection – Archaeological Artifacts

Chapter 2: Musashino Folk Museum Collection – Folk Artifacts

〈Epilogue〉 Musashino Folk Museum Collection – Outdoor Exhibition 'Folk Village'

Featured Items:

- Clay earring (late Jomon period, National Important Cultural Property) - Pedestal-mounted jar-shaped earthenware (late Yayoi period) - Shop sign 'Seiryōmaru' (modern era) - Match labels (Showa era) - Match labels (Showa era) - Match labels (Showa era) - Match labels (Showa era)

Related Program

Museum Talk (with sign language interpretation)

'The History and Folklore of Musashino: Musashino Folk Museum Collection 2026' Highlights

Date: July 25 (Sat) and November 28 (Sat), 2026, 14:30– Speaker: Mana Ikuta (Curator)

Exhibition: 'The History and Folklore of Musashino: Musashino Folk Museum Collection 2026'

Period: Saturday, July 18, 2026 (Reiwa 8) to Sunday, December 13, 2026

Venue: Exhibition Hall, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (3-7-1 Sakura-machi, Koganei City, within Koganei Park, Tokyo Metropolitan Government)

Opening Hours: Until September 30 (Wed): 9:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00); from October 1 (Thu): 9:30–16:30 (last entry 16:00)

Closed: Mondays (except when Monday is a national holiday; closed the following weekday)

Organizers: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture)

Admission: Included with regular museum admission

Exhibition Website: https://www.tatemonoen.jp/special/2026/20260718.php