Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum
Read a guide to the Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum, a free, modern museum presenting the history of Tokyo's water supply.
Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum 東京都水道歴史館
The Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum (Tokyo-to Suido Rekishikan) is a small, easily accessible, modern museum in Tokyo's Bunkyo ward that presents the history of public potable water supply in the capital. The museum belongs to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Waterworks, which also runs the Tokyo Metropolitan Water Science Museum
The origins of Tokyo's water supply go back to the year 1590 when the first Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, having consolidated his authority over the nation at his stronghold in the township of Edo (now Tokyo), decreed the construction of a drinkable water supply as one of the first steps in building what became a city.
The Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum colorfully traces this history on two spacious floors of exhibits. There are imaginatively presented data presentations, interactive presentations (mainly for children), realia representing the technology of water supply from the ancient to the modern, reconstructions of bygone housing showing how Japanese families of old were supplied their drinking water, and a video reenactment of life as it was lived, focusing on the water-related aspects of pre-modern lifestyles, and a library.
Lobby in the Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum
Water pipe display in the Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum
Hours
Hours: 9.30 am - 5 pm (last entry 4.30 pm)
Closed fourth Monday of every month (open all other days) except when Monday is a national holiday when it is open, but closes Tuesday.
Closed: December 28 January 4
Admission
Free
Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum Access
The Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum is about 8 minutes walk from the following stations:
- Ochanomizu Station (Ochanomizu-bashi Exit) on the Chuo-Sobu Line
- Ochanomizu Station (Exit No.1) on the Marunouchi Subway Line
- Suidobashi Station (East Exit) on the Chuo-Sobu Line
- Suidobashi Station (Exit No.A1) on the Mita Subway Line
- Hongo-sanchome Station on the Oedo Subway Line (Exit No.3) and Marunouchi Subway Line (Kasuga-dori Exit)
- Shin-Ochanomizu Station (Exit No.B1) on the Chiyoda Subway Line
2-7-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033
Tel. 03 5802 9040
Google Map of Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum
Historical reconstruction, Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum
Faucets, Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum
Related Water Resources
Kasukabe Underground Flood Protection Tank
