Providing enlightenment about the nature, history and culture of the region, the Urayasu City Folk Museum is a hidden gem in the heart of the city. In addition to the fascinating photography displays and short movies, the site incorporates an array of traditional houses that provide an insight into old-world Urayasu. Piece together the history of this intriguing area and its people through the exhibits.
Study the old houses and other structures that are installed just outside the museum. You can enter many of them for a glimpse of the personal belongings and utensils that were engrained in the culture.
Let your kids play with the old and simple toys that are a world away from the futuristic rides of nearby Tokyo Disneyland. Climb onto a pair of bamboo stilts and check out the various other wares and utensils.
Lay down a blanket beside the charming stream and set up a picnic with your family, imagining this place as the quaint fishing village it was decades ago. Here, you can still watch various local craftsmen hard at work on their hand-made boats. Make your way though the indoor displays to learn about the area’s natural history and the lost traditions of the Urayasu peoples.
Next door, drop in at the Urayasu Central Library and leaf through the range of English-language magazines and books. Rent DVDs and books here and read in the tranquil café.
Note that it is free to enter the museum, which opens Tuesday through Sunday from morning to afternoon. Check the schedule online for the various events that take place at the museum throughout the year.
Find the Urayasu City Folk Museum on the eastern side of the Sakai River in the center of Urayasu City. Walk north from the Urayasu City Hall for 5 minutes to get here.
While you’re in this central hub, visit some of the neighboring sights, such as the Urayasu City Cultural Hall, Kairakuminamijido Park and Shinmeigaiku Park.
