A 140-Year-Old House Lives Again
At the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, history surrounds you in two ways: a fully reconstructed Edo‑period street you can walk through, and the new XR experience “Osaka Momoyo,” which immerses you in 400 years of Osaka life through cinematic 360° virtual storytelling.
Running through April 5, 2026, a new exhibition at the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living documents the renovation and transformation of a traditional private home. Known for its full-scale indoor recreation of Edo-period Osaka streets—complete with walkable alleys, townhouses, and shopfronts—the museum provides an ideal setting for this special exhibition, which follows the process of restoring a traditional private house into a place meant to be lived in today.
The exhibition, “Renovation of a Traditional Japanese House“, follows illustrator Takeo Tsunamoto’s restoration of a roughly 140-year-old wooden house inherited from relatives. Instead of presenting a finished result, it traces the process itself: family discussions, structural decisions, negotiations with craftspeople, and the practical realities of adapting traditional architecture to modern living. Illustrations are shown alongside photographs, handwritten notes, construction records, scale models, and the tools used during renovation, revealing restoration as a continuous act of care.
Rather than treating the home as an object of nostalgia or display, the focus is on the real, hands-on work of repairing, adapting, and bringing an aging structure back into daily life.
Seen together with the museum’s immersive streetscape, the exhibition highlights how historic homes were once maintained as part of everyday urban life. For first-time visitors to the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, this exhibition provides a clear reason to visit now—one admission ticket offering both a vivid historical environment and a thoughtful, contemporary look at how traditional homes can continue to function as lived spaces today.
Restoration as daily life – A private house restored to live in, not to showcase or sell.
Process on display – Tools, notes, models, and photos reveal how repair actually happens.
Full‑scale Osaka streets – Walk through Edo‑period town life recreated indoors.
Limited‑time depth – A seasonal reason to visit the permanent museum.
Comfortable winter visit – Entirely indoors, calm, and unhurried.
Photos: Official Website
THE SCENE: FAQ’s
ACCESS
Venue: Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
Address: 6-2-27 Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0041
Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line / Tanimachi Line → Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station → Exit 3
Use Exit 3, which connects directly to the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living via underground passageways.
JR Osaka Loop Line → Tenma Station → South Exit
Exit the station via the South Exit, then walk south along Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street for approximately 10 minutes.
The museum is located at the northern end of Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street and is clearly signposted from both stations.
Schedule
Exhibition period: January 31, 2026 (Saturday) – April 5, 2026 (Sunday).
Museum hours: 10:00–17:00 daily (last entry 16:30).
Closed Tuesdays unless otherwise announced.
Related programs take place on select dates during the exhibition period.
TICKETS
Museum Admission:
• Adults: ¥600
• University/HS Students: ¥400
• Junior High & Younger: Free
XR Osaka Momoyo Admission:
• Adults: ¥1,500 (or ¥1,000 for Osaka residents)
• Children: ¥600 (or ¥400 for Osaka residents)
Where to Buy:
• Museum ticket counter (1F)
• XR tickets available onsite and during visit time slots
INFO & TIPS
Photography is permitted in most areas unless signage indicates otherwise.
Most explanatory text is in Japanese; English support is limited.
Allow 90–120 minutes to view both the permanent museum and the special exhibition.
Elevators are available; strollers and wheelchairs are permitted.
Related Events
Talk Session: “Refixing and Connecting Old Private Houses”
Date & Time: February 21, 2026 (Saturday), 13:30–15:30
Venue: Osaka City Housing Information Center, 3rd Floor Hall
Application required; deadline February 14, 2026
Roof Structure Demonstration
Date & Time: March 14, 2026 (Saturday), 13:00–15:00
Venue: Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, 8th Floor Rotunda
No application required; standard admission applies.
