Sake shop and Shitamachi

Old Yoshida sake shop Yanaka/Ueno, Tokyo
This last Tokyo story is about the rare historic remnants of a bygone era in modern Tokyo, with two small and little-known Tokyo museums where nihonshu or sake hold a prominent place. I am not usually into museums but I'll make an exception, before a swift return to the liveliest wines you can imagine...
The first one (picture above) sits in the Yanaka neighborhood (谷中) which is itself part of what we call shitamachi, the lower town of Tokyo. This is the old Yoshida sake/liquor shop, which was built in 1910, got modifications in 1935 and was donated as a museum to show how a sake merchant house looked like in the early 20th century. It was still inhabited till 1986 by merchants. This sake shop is an annex of the Shitamachi Museum (2nd half of this story), which is located in Ueno, not far from there.

The sake shop __ cashier desk Sake containers Old sake bottles Ceramic bottles Sakura beer poster Sake brand poster

The Shitamachi Museum (pic : Wikipedia) The Shitamachi Museum is a very simple museum, I could even say that it looks as humble as shitamachi, the lower town, was. The entry fee is very low, 300 Y if I remember, and you can see on the street levet a real-size reconstitution of a few buildings (we could say shacks) that were commonplace in old-time Japan. When you see them you understand better how whole towns would burn after earthquakes or fire accidents.
Shitamachi Museum
Taito, Uenokoen, ２−１
〒110-0007 Tokyo
phone +81 3 3823 7451
directions on map
Museum's website A shitamachi house The well Water tank ? Workshop Sophisticated sewage system (toilets & sink) under a rustic outlook Room with furniture Furniture holding a small hearth for tea & sake Close up on the hearth (the 2 containers on left are for sake) Back to the 21st century (Ueno)