Delving into Minato City’s past? Right before us stands the Minato Local Museum, a gateway to understanding the area’s nature, history, and culture. It is more than just a repository of artifacts. It is a place of learning and interaction.
The Minato Local Museum opened its doors in 2018. The museum is housed in a building with a rich history itself. Completed in 1938, the structure once served as a public health clinic. Today, it stands preserved and renovated, blending its original character with modern museum facilities.
Step inside. You will discover a permanent exhibition that introduces Minato City through diverse materials and digital displays. The exhibition is divided into three themes that explore different aspects of the city’s story. While there is an admission fee for the permanent exhibition, exploring the building itself is free.
Note that admission to the permanent exhibits costs 300 yen. Payment can be made via cash, Visa, JCB, MasterCard, AMEX, UnionPay, or Alipay.
Consider that the Minato Local Museum isn’t just about what’s inside. The building’s architecture is noteworthy. It is housed in a grand, castle-like estate built in Uchida-Gothic style. From 1938 to 2002, it served as the Institute of Public Health, which was founded and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. The goal was to rejuvenate the city after the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake.
Having survived air raids and subsequent earthquakes, the building showcases academic life in 20th-century Tokyo. The museum has galleries that detail the history of Minato City, from prehistory to the present day. The permanent collection includes locally found artifacts and preserved sections of notable shell middens in the area. You can even see a skeletal specimen of a whale and ancient pottery.
The Minato Local Museum also hosts special exhibitions. One past exhibition focused on architecture in Minato City. It showcased temples and Western-style buildings. Photographs, drawings, and actual building materials were displayed. Visitors could see components from temple halls and stained glass from Western-style buildings.
Consider the “tokyo,” a member that supports the roof of a temple’s main hall. This piece is made by assembling members without nails. Temple building techniques came from China around 1,500 years ago. These techniques greatly influenced Japanese architecture.
Tiles are also essential to Japanese architecture. “Onigawara” tiles are placed at the roof’s ends. Each building has unique designs on these tiles.
Western architecture began influencing Japanese buildings in the modern era. “Kenchiku Madori Jizai,” published in 1924, shows layouts for houses with both tatami and Western-style rooms. Stained glass became a symbol of Western-style architecture. It was used for lighting in corridors.
After the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, disaster prevention became a priority. Schools and facilities were rebuilt with reinforced concrete. They were made earthquake-proof and noncombustible. Fire shutters were installed in the library to protect books and research materials.
In the permanent exhibition, you can explore the history of Minato City. Exhibits include shell mounds, inner bay fishery artifacts, and displays on modern urban development. You can also see gravestones of pets from the Edo period and a diorama of the Takanawa Chikkemi embankment.
In the free area, you can touch authentic materials. These include a whale skeleton and Jomon pottery. The old auditorium has well-preserved features from its construction, such as staircase-like desks and chairs.
The Minato Local Museum is easily accessible. It is a one-minute walk from Exit 2 of Shirokanedai Station on the Namboku or Mita line. The museum is open daily. The ticket booth is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm. On Saturdays, it is open until 7:30 pm. The museum is closed on the third Thursday of each month. There are also closures during the New Year holidays. Free Museum Days for Minato citizens are Feb 11, May 5, Aug 11 and Nov 3.
So, as you leave the Minato Local Museum, take with you a deeper understanding of Minato City. Remember the stories, the architecture, and the artifacts that bring the past to life.