National Showa Memorial Museum

The National Showa Memorial Museum is a history museum in Kudanminami housing over 63,000 items including letters, clothing, and personal belongings. The collection documents how people lived during wartime and the years that followed in Japan.

The museum opened in 1999 to document and preserve the experiences of Japanese citizens during and after World War II. It was established to record the history of the Showa period through the eyes of those who lived through it.

The museum displays personal items and wartime newsreels that show how ordinary citizens lived during the Showa era. You can see the daily routines and concerns of people from that time reflected in their belongings and stories.

The museum sits one minute away from Kudanshita Station, making it easy to reach. It offers audio guides in multiple languages and is open Tuesday through Sunday for visitors.

Visitors can interact with vintage phones, draw water from traditional wells, and experience everyday life during the Showa era firsthand. These hands-on stations bring history to life in a personal way.

Location: Kudanminami

Inception: March 27, 1999

Architects: Kiyonori Kikutake

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:30

Website: https://showakan.go.jp

GPS coordinates: 35.69511,139.75091

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:29