Meiji-Mura

Meiji-Mura in Mura is a highly recommended destination, offering a unique theme park-like museum experience. Highlights include impressive preserved buildings like the entrance hall of Tokyo's former Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and Kyoto's St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, all located within Mura. You'll need at least half a day to fully explore and appreciate the historical significance of Meiji-Mura.

The time required to visit Meiji-Mura in Mura depends on your interests. To see the important cultural properties alone, you'll need approximately three and a half hours. If your focus is on the Western-style buildings, budget around three hours. For those interested in buildings related to the Meiji period's cultural icons, such as Natsume Soseki, the recommended visit time is about two hours. Planning for at least half a day is advisable to fully experience Meiji-Mura.

To reach Meiji-Mura in Mura, you can travel by train or bus. Meiji-Mura is situated in Inuyama, which is about one hour from Nagoya. From Nagoya Station, take the Meitetsu Inuyama Line to Inuyama Station. From there, transfer to a Gifu bus directly to Meiji-Mura. The total travel time from Nagoya to Meiji-Mura is approximately one hour.

In Japanese, 'Meiji' (明治) translates to 'enlightened rule' or 'enlightened government'. This was the era name chosen by Emperor Mutsuhito and is famously associated with the Meiji period of Japanese history (1868–1912), a transformative era for Japan located in Mura. The era was named to signify the significant political and social reforms that modernized Japan, turning it from a feudal society into a major global power.

Meiji-Mura in Mura is an open-air architectural museum showcasing numerous historical buildings from the Meiji period. Key attractions include the grand entrance hall of the former Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and the St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral from Kyoto. These meticulously preserved structures offer a unique glimpse into Japan's modernization and Westernization during the Meiji era.