Showa Natsukashi-kan

A nostalgic spot that recreates a street corner of the Showa 30s (1955–1964). For an admission fee of 200 yen, you climb a slightly slanted staircase and feel as if you have stepped into another world. The space covers about 16 tsubo (approx. 53 square meters) and recreates the central living room, "Iyashi no Ma" (Healing Room), along with 10 shops from the streets of Aizuwakamatsu. All of the furniture and small items are authentic pieces that were actually used at the time.

The curator's carefully pursued vision, which he had held for 20 years, of creating a space from the Showa 30s, when people were not wealthy but had rich hearts, resulted in a remarkable space. Every shop is named after a real business that the curator knew, recreating the town as it was.

In the central living room, "Iyashi no Ma," nostalgic footage of Rikidozan and other scenes plays on a black-and-white television, and you can play your favorite songs on the jukebox. The exhibits change with the seasons, and you are welcome to touch them or take photographs.

Dim alleys evoking dusk, a sushi shop, a tobacco shop, a public bathhouse, and a photo studio line the way. The exhibits are authentic, and even the dirt on the ceilings and walls has been recreated by hand. At the dead end is a toilet built with old, authentic materials, where you can also see a sesshin-mado (toilet window).

Showa Natsukashi-kan is a wonderful spot that even people who do not remember the Showa era can enjoy. Please visit as many times as you like!