The Tokyo Gas “Gas Museum” ガスミュージアム (がす資料館) is a modest but well designed museum housed in two historic brick buildings. The first, the “House of Gas Lamps” gives a brief history of gas lamp history in the Tokyo metro area, from approx 1872. The second floor has a satisfying collection of Nishikie 錦絵 (Ukiyoe prints from the Meiji era).
The second building, the “House of Gas for Life”, displays old gas-powered appliances, vintage Tokyo Gas advertisements, and a history of how Tokyo Gas has impacted daily life over the years. The second floor of this building has scale models of coal-to-gas processing plants.
Museum brochure (Japanese):
Museum brochure (English):
Outside the two buildings is a well-maintained courtyard with real gas-powered lamps.
Museum information:
- Address: 〒187-0001 東京都小平市大沼町4-31-25 / 4-31-25 Onuma-cho, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo (Google maps)
- Telephone: +81 42-342-1715
- Website: gasmuseum.jp
- Admission is free.
- Travel time from central Tokyo: 1 hour, 15 minutes
the tokyo files 東京ファイル 