Edo-Tokyo Museum, Tokyo (must see)

The Edo Tokyo Museum takes visitors on a chronological walk through the history of the city. It portrays the period when Edo was a small fishing village and the events that made it the large metropolis it is today.

The Edo-Tokyo Museum building was designed by Kiyonori Kikutake. The inspiration was an old storehouse in Kurazukuri style. The building is 62.2 meters high, the same height as the Edo Castle. It has an elevated floor structure with seven levels above the ground and one beneath. It covers 30,000 square meters of exhibition space and was opened for public viewing in 1993.

The permanent exhibition at the Edo-Tokyo Museum is divided into the Edo Zone, the Tokyo Zone and the Second Event Exhibition Room. There are over 2,500 exhibits including woodblocks, print scrolls, old maps, several life-sized models including a recreated Kabuki theater and a model of the Edo Castle, old maps, exhibits about industries that flourished in and around Tokyo, objects relating to the Great Kanto Earthquake and the World War II bombings and an exhibition devoted to Tokyo’s future. Placards and signs in English and audio guides are available to help foreign visitors understand the history and significance of the collections easily.

Why You Should Visit:
Probably a good place to start museum-wise, as it gives a great overview of Tokyo history and contrasts the pre-war and now modern.
There are many unique & interactive exhibits and scale models, and you can have a really nice lunch at the 7th-floor restaurant.

Tip:
There is very little explanation in English so get the free guided tour (10am-3pm) for which reservations are required, but if there is room on the tour that uses your language, you can just walk up. The guides are very nice with lots of interesting insights about the shogun and daily life in 18th and 19th century Tokyo.