Meiji Mura

Meiji Mura is a theme park-style open-air museum in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture. It preserves and displays buildings from the Meiji era while collecting historical materials from the period, and has frequently served as a filming location for TV dramas and a source of inspiration for anime.

Its spacious grounds also serve as a venue for cosplay events and mystery-solving games.

A Theme Park of Historic Architecture

As urban redevelopment during Japan’s economic growth made it increasingly difficult to preserve historic buildings in their original locations, Meiji Mura was established in 1965 to house these structures. The museum initially brought together around 15 buildings, including the Sapporo Telephone Exchange, Kyoto St. John’s Church, and the former residences of writers Mori Ōgai and Natsume Sōseki. By 2026, the collection has grown to 67 structures and facilities, including a steam locomotive. Fourteen buildings hold Important Cultural Property status, with many more registered as Tangible Cultural Properties — a paradise for architecture enthusiasts.

A Popular Location for Film, TV, and Anime

Meiji Mura’s buildings have appeared in numerous film and television productions, including the NHK morning dramas Manpuku and Tora ni Tsubasa, Murder on the Orient Express starring Ninomiya Kazunari and Matsushima Nanako, and the film Kurosagi.

Buildings at Meiji Mura have also inspired locations in popular anime series such as Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) and Golden Kamuy. The museum has hosted escape game events based on Rurouni Kenshin, attracting fans from across many different genres.

Dining with a Taste of the Meiji Era

Meiji Mura is home to a variety of unique restaurants. Meiji Coffee Jikan offers glass-themed sweets like Aisu Kurin Soda and Bīdama Punch amid stained glass windows and brick walls. Nagoya-an serves regional Nagoya favorites such as miso katsu-don and kishimen noodles, while Meiji no Yōshokuya Omurice & Grill Romantei dishes up nostalgic Western-style classics like omurice and hayashi rice.

At Shokudōraku, visitors can try Meiji Mura’s original curry based on recipes from the Meiji-era bestselling novel of the same name. Ōi Beef Shop serves gyūnabe, a beef hot pot that became emblematic of Japan’s modernization during the Meiji period. For those seeking Japanese cuisine, Hekisuitei offers meals with views of a traditional Japanese garden — a chance to savor the food culture of the era.