Finding, Discovering, and Collecting Edo
The Edo-Tokyo Museum App
The Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum’s smartphone app is finally here.
What creativities and delights did the lives of Edo’s townspeople have? Journey into the hustle and bustle of Edo and discover originalities that can lead to insights for the present-day!
Your journey as an Edo teenager begins in a busy morning in the nagaya.
Find Them: One hundred from the Edo-Tokyo Museum Collection
Ryōgoku-Hirokōji is Edo’s entertainment district, which the app has had recreated in 3D based on the Edo-Tokyo Museum’s model of the area to the west of Ryōgokubashi Bridge. This augmented rendition includes the Ryōgokubashi Bridge in the summer, squares on both ends of the Bridge, and the Sumida River. Scattered among this 3D rendering, overflowing with diverse people and commodities, are one hundred items selected from the Edo-Tokyo Museum’s collection for you to find.
The Four Areas: From the nagaya to Ryōgokubashi Bridge, and to Ekōin Temple and the Sumida River
Your journey as an Edo teenager begins in a busy morning in the nagaya. Stroll through to collect the area-themed items to open doors into the following areas, where, finally, you will enjoy a cool evening on a riverboat on the final Sumida River area.
The Ryōgokubashi Bridge carries many of Edo’s townspeople back-and-forth their destinations where countless incidents and events happen on the daily
performances of freak/animal shows (misemono), fires, and even street fights. The firework display at Sumida River and the sumo wrestling at Ekōin Temple are also two out of many of these events unique to Edo, items of which you can find and collect. Throughout your discovery, you might also encounter famous figures such as Katsushika Hokusai and Gennai Hiraga.
Hundreds of Edo’s Famous Events
The Well-side Talks at the Nagaya is the origin of the Idobata-kaigi.
The shared well located in the Nagaya was where its residents also shared everyday conversations. They gossiped and small-talked while they drew water from the well and did their laundry.
The Elephant at the Misemono Spectacles
The elephant was a hit at the misemono spectacles, records of which there are many drawn in nishiki-e.
Fires and Fights Lit up the Streets of Edo
The firemen (hikeshi) isolated fires not by extinguishing them but by tearing down neighboring housings and preventing their spread.
Sumo Wrestling Tournaments at the Ekoin Temple
The Ekoin Temple was famous for their sumo wrestling tournaments and hundreds flocked to see the sport. The Temple is located in Ryogoku, which is also the area where the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Stadium is today. We can say Ryogoku has firmly inherited the title of it being the town of sumo.
Visit Hokusai at this House
Katsushika Hokusai is a renowned ukiyo-e artist. Spending a good amount of his life in Sumida ward, he resided near Ryogoku station with his daughter Oei in his final years.
Tap to Find Edo’s Insights
Find
Tap and drag Edohakun (Mr. Edohakun) around the screen to find the items you seek. Rotate your perspective with the left and right buttons. The pin button allows you a birds-eye view of your and the items’ locations you are looking for.
Discover
Tap on the people or items that are outlined in white to collect them. The items you seek are contoured as clues at the bottom of your screen. The direction of the confettis will also help you.
Collect
Items you have discovered will be stored in your collection book. Find and collect all 100 items to complete your collection.