Meiji Mura

Meiji-mura (Meiji Village) in Inuyama was opened on March 18, 1965, as an open-air museum for preserving and exhibiting Japanese architecture of the Meiji period (1868-1912). Meiji was a period in which Japan opened her doors to the outside world and laid the foundation for Modern Japan by absorbing and assimilating Western culture and technology.

Over 60 historical buildings have been moved and reconstructed onto 1 km² of rolling hills alongside Lake Iruka. The most noteworthy building there is the reconstructed main entrance and lobby of Frank Lloyd Wright's landmark Imperial Hotel, which originally stood in Tokyo from 1923 to 1967, when the main structure was demolished to make way for a new, larger version of the hotel.

Especially valuable buildings that were going to be destroyed were chosen, and then brought to Meiji-mura to be reconstructed to their original appearance. Their original locations range from nearly all the islands of Japan to as far as Hawaii and Brazil and Seattle. Ten buildings were designated as an 'Important Cultural Property'. The buildings are arranged so that they will best display their value as a heritage of Meiji culture.

On display inside the buildings are furniture and other items of interst, objects of reference related to the respective buildings, and temporary exhibitions of historic materials as occasions call. Two railroads have been laid in the village and the first Meiji streetcars and steam locomotives are operated to provide visitors with transportation.

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items are from between 27 Aug 2007 & 06 Dec 2007.