Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum at Koganei Park
Since Japanese architecture today has been modernized and westernized, houses and building in traditional Japanese style are decreasing in number. Being not what it used to be, finding old Japanese houses with an atmosphere is not easy these days, especially in Tokyo, that is probably because of the difficulty in the preservation of wooden structures. So, are those old structures no longer seen in Tokyo? The answer is yes. Thankfully, there is a place exhibiting restored old houses as cultural properties, called Edo-Tokyo Tatemono-en, or Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.
The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (江戸東京たてもの園 Edo-Tokyo Tatemono-en) is located in Koganei City, Tokyo, approximately 18 away from Shinjuku. Although Koganei is not known as a tourist spot, it has lovely places surrounded by greenery, and Koganei Park (小金井公園 Koganeikoen) is the most popular spot in the city where Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is situated in.
The museum houses restored and preserved historical structures from the Edo period to the early Showa period, equivalent to from the 1600s to the 1940s, and the streetscape created by the collection of those old structures retains a nostalgic feel. Visitors are allowed come inside of the structures so they can experience hands-on the lifestyle of bygone days.
Koganei-koen Park is one of the best Sakura viewing spots in Tokyo! 
The feature of Koganei-koen Park is not only Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Koganei Park is the second largest park in the Tokyo metropolitan area and has more than 1700 cherry trees. It must be worth visiting the park just to enjoy green and flowers.
Location / Getting there
From Takadanobaba station to Hana-koganei : 22 min. by Seibu Shinjuku Line Train(Fare 270 Yen)
From Seibu Shinjuku station to Hana-koganei : 23 min. by Seibu Shinjuku Line Train(Fare 270 Yen)
From JR Shinjuku station to Musashi-koganei sta. : 25 min. by JR Chuo Kaisoku Line Train (Fare 310 Yen)
From JR Shinjuku station to Higashi-koganei : 23 min. by JR Chuo Kaisoku Line Train (Fare 310 Yen)
*As of May.2014
To reach Koganei park and the museum, city buses are available from three of nearby stations; Musashi-koganei station and Higashi-koganei Station on the JR Chuo Line, Hana-koganei Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line (a 5 or 10 min. bus ride). However, it is walkable from each station to Koganei park, that would be a 30 min. walk or so.
Google Maps : Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei Park
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
江戸東京たてもの園 (Edo-Tokyo Tatemono-en)
[Opening Hours]
April-september 9:30AM – 5:30PM
October-March 9:30AM – 4:30PM
[Closed]
Mondays (closed on Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday).
New Year's holidays (28.Dec 28 to 4.Jan )
[Admission Fees ]
400 JP Yen for Adults
For details, see their official web site.
https://www.tatemonoen.jp/
Related Websites
Koganei Park
小金井公園 (Koganei Koen)
https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index050.html
Koganei city tourism
https://koganei-kanko.jp/ (In Japanese)
