For just 3,000 yen, you can transform into a girl from the Meiji era – the super-cute and photogenic hakama skirt-style kimono
Reporter Lai Wen-xuan / Reported and photographed from Nagoya, Japan
The Meiji era marked the beginning of Japan’s modernization. During this period, Japan transitioned from a closed society to one that embraced new ideas, introducing technologies and systems from Europe and America. The Meiji Mura Museum in Nagoya preserves a wealth of valuable architecture and historical materials from that time. Visitors to Meiji Mura can dress up in the short hakama skirts worn by female students of the Meiji period and step back in time to experience Japan 150 years ago.
▲ Visit the Meiji Mura Museum in Nagoya, Japan, and travel through time in retro attire.
%The Meiji Mura Museum has a long history, and buildings over a hundred years old.
The Meiji Mura Museum covers a vast area of about 1 million square meters and houses many precious buildings from Japan’s Meiji era that were on the verge of disappearing. These include not only traditional Japanese structures but also Western-style churches. The buildings are not replicas but were actually dismantled, carefully numbered, and transported from various locations before being reassembled according to their original designs. Among them, 11 buildings in Meiji Mura have been designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
▲%Even now, there are many Western-style buildings, allowing visitors to feel the essence of the Meiji era.
▲%Visitors can also experience the culture and atmosphere of the Meiji era here.
To delve deeper into life 100 years ago, visitors can rent formal attire from the Meiji era or the uniquely styled Meiji “hakama skirt” at the museum’s retro clothing facility. Costume rentals are divided into short photo sessions inside a studio with 5 minutes of shooting time for ¥800.
▲%If you rent a costume, you can take commemorative photos that look like they’re from the Meiji era.
A more interesting walking tour is limited to just 10 sets per day at ¥3,000. Female visitors can dress as Meiji-era schoolgirls, while males can wear the traditional student attire (gakuran). Due to the longer hemlines, participants must be at least 150 cm tall. After renting the outfit, you can leisurely explore the park all day in vintage Japanese clothing, taking photos as if you’ve truly traveled back in time.
▲%Wearing costumes from the Meiji era, you can stroll through the park and take commemorative photos.
▲%The buildings in the Meiji era have histories of over a hundred years, and the highlights recommended by the staff are a must-see. (Photo provided by Meiji Mura Museum)
In autumn, strolling through the expansive Meiji Mura, you’ll find the maple leaves turning red, creating scenic views everywhere. Museum staff say the architectural characteristics of the Meiji era shifted from traditional wood, washi paper, to red bricks, cement, and glass windows. Here, you can feel the atmosphere of an era where traditional Japanese and Western architecture intertwined. Notable buildings to visit include the Imperial Hotel, the former residence of Saigo Tsugumichi, the Tōmatsu family home, the villa “Sokyu-sō” of Saionji Kimmochi, and the theater “Kuretake-za.”
▲%Visitors can choose to start with the amusement park and shrine areas.
Within the park, three types of transportation are available: the village-operated bus, Kyoto-style streetcars, and a nearly 150-year-old steam locomotive (SL). Purchasing a one-day pass allows you to try all of them, but if time is limited, single-ride tickets are also available.
▲%The steam locomotive in Japan is displayed at the front of the station, often seen in the first area, and sometimes in the second carriage.
In fact, the earliest era of railway transportation in Japan was the Meiji period. The preserved steam locomotive (SL) in the village is also Japan’s oldest train. As black smoke billows from the engine, the train slowly departs. The red seats and wooden interiors give a strong sense of the past. Though the journey from the Tokyo Station within the park to Nagoya Station takes just five minutes, you can witness the rare sight of train staff manually turning the locomotive around upon arrival.
▲ Recreating the taste of croquettes based on recipes from the best-selling Meiji-era novel "Shokuyoku."
%You can also enjoy old-fashioned Japanese sweets from over a hundred years ago.
One of the reasons to visit Meiji Mura is to taste authentic Meiji-era cuisine. Aside from sukiyaki from the century-old Oi Beef Shop in Kobe, you can also try croquettes recreated exactly according to recipes from the Meiji era’s best-selling romance novel “Shokuyoku,” immersing both your vision and taste in the past.
▲%These dishes are something Japanese people would love to eat.
Visiting Meiji Mura isn’t just about looking at old buildings—you can also try archery, explore a replica prison, or visit the old-fashioned candy store Yakumo to buy nostalgic Japanese snacks and toys. Finally, at the Ujiyamada Post Office within the museum, you can send a “future postcard” to yourself ten years later, though only with a Japanese address. International visitors can still send regular postcards.
▲ Don’t forget to send yourself a postcard before leaving Meiji Mura.
Meiji Mura Museum
Official Website:http://www.meijimura.com/
Address: 1 Inuyama, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Phone: 0568-67-0314
Opening Hours: (Last entry is 30 minutes before closing)
March–July, September, October: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
August: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
November: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
December–February: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed Days:December 31 (Unscheduled closures may occur on weekdays during summer and winter; check the official website for details)
Admission Fees:
Adults: ¥1,700
Seniors (65+), University Students: ¥1,300
High School Students: ¥1,000
Junior High & Elementary Students: ¥600
Transportation:
From Chubu Centrair International Airport, take the Meitetsu Line to Inuyama Station, then transfer to a bus for about 20 minutes
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