Tokyo Waterworks Historical Museum — Attraction in Tokyo

One of Tokyo's best kept secrets. I came across this attraction while I was exploring the area. There was no cover charge, and they offer guided audio tours in many different languages. Make note that even though the tour begins on the first floor, then directs you to the second floor, the second part of the tour is back on the first. The second floor tour covers the history of Edo's Waterworks. There's a puppet show that's in Japanese, but you can still get the gist of the story if you don't know any. The first floor covers the more modern history of Tokyo Waterworks and how the water system grew Edo and Tokyo into Japan's capital. Excellent history from a real practical perspective that goes beyond any specific historical event....

Free museum. An audio guide is provided with English descriptions of most of the displays. If you're a science or engineering enthusiast this is worth a quick visit if you're in the area.

The upstairs portion focuses on the history of water delivery in Tokyo. Lots of wooden pipes and explainations of how water was supplied to the growing city. I enjoyed the motorized "puppet show" even though it was all in Japanese.

If the entire museum was as good as the upstairs this would be an easy 5-star review. Unfortunately, the downstairs, focused on modern water supply just was not as good or engaging. The downstairs switches from models and examples to more charts, graphs, maps, and text.

The staff at the entry desk was very welcoming...

I suggest spend around 3 hours for this place. For learning purpose, I suggest going here a few times. You can learn the history of water line, mostly 上水, how the past has shaped the water work in the present, also get to know where the water you use come from。It is different from the 下水. The pipes made from tree were so impressive, with huge barrow, it led and stored water within the city for every one to gather and use together. The replica of the houses and public well really bring you back in time.

There are some more museums to learn about different types of water ways, man hole museum.

Great experience with audio guide, interactive quiz game, so many movies. Highly...