Bunkyo Museum (Furusato Rekishikan)

Bunkyo Museum (Furusato Rekishikan) opened in 1991 to help visitors learn about the history and culture of Bunkyo Ward and foster a sense of attachment to and interest in the local community.
The exhibits show how the city was developed during the Edo period through large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the construction of water supply systems and the development of highways.
The museum is divided into three zones: “Cityscapes,” reflecting the urban planning of the time; “Lifestyles,” depicting the lives of samurai and commoners; and “Cultural Landscapes,” illustrating the development of the academic environment. Through valuable documents, paintings, and models, these exhibits recreate the atmosphere of the era.
The exhibits portray the vibrant lives of the common people and the calm and dignified residences of the samurai. During the Meiji era, the University of Tokyo and many other schools were established, laying the foundation for Bunkyo Ward.
The area surrounding the museum is also home to many former residences of literary figures such as Higuchi Ichiyō and Ishikawa Takuboku, allowing visitors to experience places associated with modern Japanese literature.