Edo-Tokyo Museum to reopen on March 31 after major renovation

This undated supplied photo shows the Edo-Tokyo Museum in the Japanese capital’s Sumida Ward set to reopen on March 31 following renovation work. (Photo courtesy of the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture)(Kyodo)

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The Edo-Tokyo Museum, one of the capital’s popular destinations among inbound foreign visitors, will reopen on March 31 following extensive renovation work, with aging facilities fully upgraded and barrier-free access enhanced.

The museum, known for its striking exterior with a dramatically overhanging roof, opened in 1993. It has been closed since April 2022 for its first major renovation due to aging air-conditioning systems and deteriorating interior and exterior facilities.

The renovation improved insulation and waterproofing, as well as replacing the air-conditioning systems. Barrier-free restrooms were installed next to the first-floor ticket counter, and walls in the entrance hall were removed to create a more open space.

Considering environmental impact, the museum switched its interior lighting to energy-efficient light-emitting diode, or LED, fixtures. The museum will also install electric vehicle charging stations in the visitor parking area.

Admission to the permanent exhibition after the reopening will be 800 yen ($5) for adults and 400 yen for visitors aged 65 and over. The museum said it aims to become a “Tokyo icon that everyone will want to visit.”