For a Nostalgic Destination Not Far from Tokyo: Kawasaki City's Tama Ward! Japanese Tradition, a Manga Museum, and Industrial Nightscapes

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  Kawasaki City (川崎市), just 30 minutes from central Tokyo, is famous as a "Beautiful Industrial Nightscape Spot."

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  The Tama Ward of Kawasaki comes especially highly recommended for travelers who like a little retro flair. With an open-air museum that has traditional Japanese homes from all over the country (and architecture of all kinds) collected and displayed in one place, and another museum dedicated to the creator of the famous manga Doraemon, Fujiko·F·Fujio, plus plenty more, there's enough to fill up a lovely day-long itinerary.

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  This is the Kawasaki City Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum (AKA Nihon Minka-en), found in the city's Tama Ward, where old-fashioned Japanese homes are on show, out in the fresh air. (These Japanese homes built with traditional architecture are called kominka, 古民家.) Head over to wander between 25 different houses designated as precious cultural resources from all over Japan, and see the varying architecture with your own eyes.
  
  
  Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum (日本民家園, Nihon Minka-en)
  Address: 7-11 Masugata, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
  Access by Train: From Shinjuku Station it takes 22 min. on the Odakyu Line to get to Mukogaoka-Yuen Station, and another 13 minutes walking from the station's south exit.
  Access by Bus: From Mukogaoka-Yuen Station south exit bus stop, take either the "た８３" or "溝１９" bus to Ikuta Ryokuchi Iriguchi bus stop.
  Hours: Mar to Oct 9:30 - 17:00 / Nov to Feb 9:30 - 16:30
  Closed: Mondays (except for public holidays, when the museum will close the next day instead)/Dec 29 to Jan 3
  Admission: General 500 yen / High School, University Students 300 yen / Seniors (65+) 300 yen / Children Free
  Official Website (en)

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  Not only can you stroll the spacious grounds and see the well-preserved houses up close, but the museum also offers opportunities to experience little bits of the traditional Japanese lifestyle!

The Varied Shapes of 25 Different Japanese Folk Houses

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  Even if these houses can all be described with the Japanese word kominka, or simply called folk houses, when we say varied we mean varied. The shapes of the houses and the way they were constructed all vary depending on the era when they were built, their original location and even the surrounding environment, meaning you can learn a lot about the house's origins just by looking carefully. Of course, the houses are a bit too big to take them all in at once, so inside the museum's main exhibition area they've got a diorama featuring miniatures of all the folk houses, making it easy to identify and learn about all the little differences.

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  The museum's collection doesn't only include residential homes, though. They've also got buildings like this traditional theater stage for live performances. Looks like Japan has loved theater for a long time! (Apparently, this stage mostly has a history of hosting kabuki performances.)

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  The building was built specifically to be used for stage productions, so it actually has a device built into the floor to manually turn a part of the stage! These days, the alterations necessary for a scene change can be completed with just a press of a button, but back in the day people couldn't rely on such advanced technology, so backdrops were turned around using pure manpower, pushing to move the floor from an area under the stage called the "naraku" (奈落). Apparently it took a full 8 adult men to push the levers needed to turn things! (Just a heads up: the naraku area of the building is not currently open to the public!)

Experiencing Traditional Japanese Artisan Indigo Dyeing

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  In the museum's Dentou-Kougeikan (traditional craft building) visitors can try their hand at a traditional Japanese method of dyeing fabric using indigo, called aizome (藍染), which has been passed down for generations. Aizome utilizes a dye made out of the fermented indigo plant, which is then soaked into silk, cotton, or linen to turn it a deep blue. At the museum you can take a paid workshop and learn the craft from a pro, dyeing your very own handkerchief or scarf in the process.

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  During the workshop, before submerging the fabric in dye, you actually use thread, rubber bands, and marbles to create areas that won't be exposed to or suck up the dye. During this process, you create your own unique pattern to decorate the handkerchief or scarf!

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  After tying up the fabric just right, it's submerged in the indigo dye and then wrung out and exposed to the air in a process that's repeated three or four times.

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  Lastly, after thoroughly rinsing out the excess dye in clean water, you can spread the fabric out and see just how your design turned out! Dye can still rub off of the finished product, so once it's totally dry, you have to make sure to wash it two or three more times before letting the fabric rub against your skin.
  
  Aizome Indigo Dye Workshop
  Workshop Time Slots: 10:00~ / 13:00~ / 14:30~
  Time Required: 1 to 1½ hours
  Fee: Handkerchiefs 700 yen / Bandanas 880 yen
  Official Page (en)

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  ⒸFujiko-Pro
  
  This museum was made to give visitors a chance to enjoy the work of manga artist Fujiko·F·Fujio (famous for iconic manga and anime Doraemon) in a variety of different ways. The museum has spaces where visitors can read some manga and also see Fujiko·F·Fujio illustrations aside from Doraemon, some cute photo spots, a cafe, and a gift shop.

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  ⒸFujiko-Pro
  
  For fans of classic manga, both the style of the manga on display and the museum decorations themselves are sure to seem a little nostalgic. It feels like, at any moment, you might find yourself within a manga panel!

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  ⒸFujiko-Pro
  
  Ever wondered what kind of space the numerous works of Fujiko·F·Fujio were created in? You can find the answer here!
  
  Interesting... very interesting... this is the atmosphere where those huge manga hits were born, huh?

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  ⒸFujiko-Pro
  
  On the second floor you'll find the Manga Corner, which also offers a "slightly mysterious experience."

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  ⒸFujiko-Pro
  
  On the museum grounds, aside from the museum buildings themselves, there are also outdoor spaces where visitors can meet with some old friends, their favorite characters! Taking a commemorative photo with Doraemon on the rooftop playground area surrounded by greenery is a must.

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  ⒸFujiko-Pro
  
  The Museum Cafe on the third floor sells some pretty cute original dishes. Apparently, they also release a number of limited-time-only menu items every season!

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  ⒸFujiko-Pro
  
  The rooftop Museum Gift Shop (called "藤子屋", or Fujikoya, in Japanese) has a collection of limited-edition merchandise, starting with Doraemon's beloved dorayaki pancakes.

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  ⒸFujiko-Pro
  
  Inside these cute Doraemon and Dorami design cans are eight marshmallows each, printed with eight different designs, making opening them up a pleasure!
  
  When you visit Kawasaki, you have to stop by the Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum to soak up some nostalgic manga, and pick up some cute mementos!
  
  Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum
  Address: 2-8-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
  Access: From the Odakyu Line Noborito Station, take a bus bound for the Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum, or walk 16 minutes from Mukogaoka-Yuen Station.
  Hours: 10:00 - 18:00
  Admission: Adults 1,000 yen / Middle & High Schoolers 700 yen / Children 4+ 500 yen / Younger Children Free
  Official Website (en)

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  By the way, if you're planning to go from the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum to the Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum, you might be able to make the trip by bus, so check the schedule! A bus bound for Noborito Station that goes between the open-air museum and the Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum runs 4 times a day! 
  
  
  Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum ➤ Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum Bus Schedule
  Weekdays: 10:57 / 12:42 / 14:28 / 16:38
  Weekends: 10:38 / 12:58 / 14:48 / 16:36
  (Bus does not run on days when the Fujiko·F·Fujio Museum is closed.)

Kawasaki City Tourism "Factory Nightscape Cruise Tour"

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  Kawasaki City is an area right on Tokyo Bay, packed with factories. These factories run 24 hours a day, and there are plenty of spots where lights are shining at all hours of the day, every day of the year. The brightly lit factories developed out into the bay are widely recognized as a mysteriously beautiful attraction in Japan, and a visit to see the night view is not to be missed!

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  The best spots to see the industrial scenery are a little separated from the center of Kawasaki, so there are buses and so on that will get you there, but the best way to take in everything at once is to hop on a cruise boat!

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  Inside the boat is a space with handy tables and chairs, where you can even bring your own food and drinks to enjoy onboard! Although, for safety reasons, alcohol is not allowed. Tickets can't be purchased on the day-of, so make your reservations in advance right here. There's a bus that takes you right to the cruise boat dock, so you can just gather with other customers in front of the Nikko Hotel at Kawasaki Station's east exit and hop on when it's time to get going.
  
  Cruise Details
  Schedules & Reservations (en)
  Fee: Adults (Middle School Students and older) 4,000 yen / Elementary School Students 3,000 yen
  (Credit card payment options available when making reservations.)
  Meeting Point: In front of the Kawasaki Station east exit Nikko Hotel.
  Meeting Time: Mar to Sep 18:20 / Oct to Feb 17:20

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  If you're going to go see the view via bus or some other form of transportation, then make sure you stop by the Kawasaki Marien observation deck! Entry is totally free, and you can see what the industrial nightscape looks like from up high.
  
  Kawasaki Marien Observation Deck
  38-1 Higashiogishima, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
  Access: From Kawasaki Station's bus stop #12, take the "川07" bus to Daiwa Corporation Mae bus stop, and walk an additional 10 minutes.

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  If you'd like to admire the view with a special someone, a stroll on the deck in Higashi-Ogishima East Park affords you a view of the factory lights glittering across the bay waters.
  
  Higashi-Ogishima East Park
  58-1 Higashiogishima, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
  Access: From Kawasaki Station's bus stop #12, take the "川05" bus to Higashi-Ogishima East Park bus stop.

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  If you want to see the factories from right up close, stop by the Kawasaki Konbinado Chidoricho Yard, to see a scene that looks straight out of a futuristic sci-fi mech anime. It's an ideal spot for photographers who love to take night shots!
  
  Kawasaki Konbinado Chidoricho Yard
  14-14 Chidoricho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
  Access: From Kawasaki Station's bus stop #12, take the "川04" bus to Shiei Futo bus stop.

Have the Time of Your Life in Kawasaki City, Right on the Outskirts of Tokyo!

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  Kawasaki City is made up of seven different wards, each with their own characteristics and unique attractions, and we only went over a few of the fun, retro spots the city has to offer. On the edge of Tokyo Bay, Kawasaki City has that big city feeling, but it also offers temples, shopping streets, culinary treats, a little nightlife, and some great places to stay, meaning there's always something new to enjoy. 
  
  For travelers who like a spot with a relaxed atmosphere and a bit of retro flair, Kawasaki City's Tama Ward comes highly recommended!
  
  Been to Kawasaki, or heading there soon? Let us know all about your experience on twitter, instagram, and facebook!