The park was founded in 1965 by Yoshiro Taniguchi and Motoo Tsuchikawa to preserve architecture lost during Japan's rapid post-war industrialization.
The Imperial Hotel's lobby is constructed with unique Oya stone, chosen for its ability to be carved into intricate decorative patterns.
The museum grounds include the St. John's Church, designed by James McDonald Gardiner, which features prominent Gothic architectural influences.
A steam locomotive (SL No. 12) imported from the United States in 1874 remains in working order and operates within the park.
The park contains the former residence of novelist Ogai Mori, where he lived in Tokyo while writing his famous works.
Many buildings in the collection are registered as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
The park layout is integrated into the natural topography of the Irukaike Reservoir area.
Architects from various countries contributed to the Western-style buildings, reflecting the internationalization of Japan during the late 19th century.
Museum Meiji-Mura is an open-air architectural park in Inuyama that preserves over 60 historically significant buildings relocated from across Japan, primarily dating from the Meiji (1868–1912), Taisho, and early Showa periods. The site serves as an outdoor museum dedicated to salvaging structures threatened by modernization and urban development. The collection includes the original main entrance and lobby of the second Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Visitors navigate the extensive 1-square-kilometer hillside grounds via a steam locomotive, a streetcar, and walking paths. The park features a blend of Western-style stone and brick masonry alongside traditional Japanese wooden structures. It is currently open and fully operational as of June 2026.
The dramatic, stone-carved entrance lobby of the Imperial Hotel provides the most iconic architectural photograph.
Wear comfortable, broken-in walking shoes, as the park is hilly and spans a large outdoor area.
Purchase the one-day transit pass for the steam locomotive and streetcar to save significant walking time between the more distant exhibits.
Check the daily schedule upon entry for demonstrations or historical reenactments happening at specific buildings.
Trying to walk the entire perimeter on foot without using the internal transit system, which leads to fatigue given the steep inclines.
Closed on certain Mondays during the winter season; open daily throughout the peak spring and autumn months.
Maintain silence inside historical wooden structures; refrain from touching delicate displays; remove shoes when entering traditional Japanese-style rooms.
