Edo then Tokyo Museum

The permanent exhibition at the Edo Tokyo Museum follows the city’s growth from it’s founding as Edo, a small 15th Century fishing village to today’s Tokyo. The culture, politics and lifestyle of the city are examined at various points along the time line and outside influences and major events like wars and earthquakes are also dissected. One of the artefacts repeatedly mentioned in the guide books is a large scale replica of the Nihonbashi Bridge, other replicas and models make up a large proportion of the exhibits including a replica of Edo Castle and a miniature working model of a Kabuki Theatre. Western interest in geisha, pleasure quarters and warrior lore are also sated. There’s no problem with the language barrier here, with everything labelled in English.