Taisho Romantic Journey - Let's walk around "Nihon Taisho-mura" as a fashionable person!

"Nihon Taisho-mura" is located in Akechi-cho, Ena City, Gifu Prefecture. This is different from a typical theme park; the entire town is turned into a theme park. The entire townscape of the old days has been preserved, and you can encounter Taisho culture throughout the town, including the stately village hall and the earthen storehouse-style museum.

This time, we rented a Yagasuri Hakama costume and strolled around the city feeling like a stylish person. This is the start of a trip to feel the romance of the Taisho era.

What is Nihon Taisho-mura?

Nihon Taisho-mura is a retro theme park (open-air museum) located in Akechi-cho, Ena City, Gifu Prefecture. It was conceived and established as a town revitalization project in Akechi Town, Ena District in 1989 (Showa 63). The first village chief was Mieko Takamine, the second village chief was Yoko Tsukasa, and in 2015, Keiko Takeshita was appointed as the third village chief.

In addition, rather than having a theme park on the premises, the entire town functions as Nihon Taisho-mura, with stores, museums, and other facilities that preserve and recreate the atmosphere of the Taisho era.

Directions and admission fees?

Access from Nagoya took about 2 hours by car using the expressway! That's just the right distance for a drive.

For access by train, get off at Akechi Station on the Akechi Railway and walk 5 minutes. (Approx. 1 hour 50 minutes from JR Nagoya Station)

A common admission ticket is required to enter the three facilities: Taisho Romantic Museum, Nihon Taisho-mura Museum, and Taisho Period Museum, but no admission fee is required to visit the other facilities.

Costume rental at Taisho-mura Romantei

“Taisho-mura Romantei” at the entrance of Taisho-mura reopened on October 27, 2016 after renovation as a place to learn, see, taste, and enjoy the Taisho era. Inside, there are food and drink tenants and a direct sales store for local specialties.

You can rent a costume here before starting your walk.

"Which should I choose?"

You can choose the type of kimono from red, blue, and purple. There are also items for children and men, so you can wear them as a family and enjoy walking.

Don't worry, you can have the female staff help you put on the kimono!

Yay♪ I've completed my transformation into a stylish character!

The hakama is purple, and the kimono and ribbon are red. You can also rent a parasol and boots, so you can feel even more fashionable.

[Yagasuri Hakama Wearing Experience]
Child: 1,000 yen / Adult: 2,000 yen / Parent and child: 2,500 yen
Other hair ornaments, parasols and boots are also available for rent. (*Included in the price.)
Hakama color: Red only for children / Adults navy blue, red, purple
With locker

"Taisho Alley" where you can feel the atmosphere of the Taisho era

First, head to Taisho Alley, where the atmosphere of the Taisho era remains strong.

Taisho Alley is an alley between a rice storehouse where tribute rice was paid by local families and a kimono storehouse that has been in existence since the Edo period (1603-1868). The ground is cobblestone pavement, which is hard to find nowadays. The black paneling served as a firewall when the planks were removed.

At once, we felt as if we were going back in time to the Taisho Era.

Let's take a picture with the sign of "Nihon Taisho-mura Office"!

As we walked down the Taisho alley, we arrived at the "Nihon Taisho-mura"!

Taisho-mura Office was built in 1906 as an authentic Western-style building and was used as the Akechi Town Hall until September 1957. It is designated as a registered tangible cultural property as one of the examples of late Meiji period town hall architecture. The Taisho Modern building is very cool.

There is a signboard with the date of the Taisho era written in front, so please take a picture with the building and the signboard!

The stained glass on the door is also nice.

The inside is a rest room that also serves as a museum. You can also have tea, so please take a break here and take a look around the Taisho modern buildings.

There was also a retro public phone that would make you want to pick it up.

The "Picture Gallery" near the Taisho-mura Office. Paintings and books are on display at the site of a former elementary school. This is also one of the buildings where you can feel the Taisho period.

Western-style architecture with Taisho modern image "Taisho Roman-kan"

Next, go to “Taisho Roman Museum”! It is a Western-style building inspired by Taisho modern architecture, and is also a memorial hall for Mieko Takamine, the first mayor Nihon Taisho-mura, and Kiyotaka Kasugano, chairman of the village council.

The museum was not open to photography on the day of the visit, so we can only tell you this much, but in the exhibition room, there are European furniture and music boxes from the Taisho era, as well as oil paintings by Hosui Yamamoto, the father of Western-style painting, and special exhibitions related to the era.

Various special exhibitions are held on a regular basis, so be sure to check them all out!

[Taisho Roman Museum]
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 Winter (December 15th to the end of February) 10:00-16:00
Fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students Common entrance fee for 3 paid facilities (Roman Museum, Museum, Museum of the Ages)
*Open from 9:00 to 17:00 even in winter when the Drama Hall is open on the 1st floor of the Roman Hall

▼ Click here for details of the drama hall
https://akechi-mitsuhide.jp/taiga-drama-hall/

"Nihon Taisho-mura Museum" where you can see valuable materials

Next, let's go to Nihon Taisho-mura Museum
Built at the end of the Meiji period, it consists of two buildings, the "Bank Storehouse" and the "Taisho no Yakata" (Taisho House). At the time, it was a symbol of the town, comparable to a castle in this region. The architecture itself is also an important resource.

Various Taisho culture materials are displayed inside.

The building has four floors with a manual elevator. It was designated as a tangible cultural property of Ena City because it was a huge and valuable building at that time.

The building is commonly known as "Ginkogura," and it is said that it was used to store cocoons entrusted or purchased from farmers. Valuable materials such as tools and trademarks related to the raw silk industry, gramophones and records from the Taisho era are on display.

There is also a shop that sells local specialties in the hall, so you can also buy souvenirs.

[Nihon Taisho-mura Museum]
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 Winter season (December 15th to the end of February) 10:00-16:00
Price: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students, common admission fee for 3 paid facilities (Roman Museum, Museum, Historical Museum)

*Open from 9:00 to 17:00 even in winter when the Drama Hall is open on the 1st floor of the Roman Hall

Communication Museum

This is the "Communication Museum". The former Akechi Post Office, which opened in 1873, is a pioneering post office in this region. Currently, materials related to postal services and telegraphs are on display. There is an active Akechi post office next door.

Lunch time at Taisho-mura Romantei!

We are back at Taisho-mura Romantei and decided to have lunch at the café on the first floor~.

I ordered the Mitsuhide Omelet Curry Rice (1,200 yen). Akechi Town, where Taisho Village is located, is said to be the birthplace of Mitsuhide Akechi, so there are plenty of souvenirs and lunch menus associated with Mitsuhide Akechi.

Omelette curry is a magical menu that will upgrade your usual curry. The combination of fluffy omelet and curry is irresistible.

It was very delicious!

After lunch, take a break with a cup of coffee. The retro look of the slips is also nice.