Located in the center of Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, the Hinomi-yagura is its tallest architectural feature. Senkumi machibikeshi volunteers (the firemen of Edo) stand here every day on the lookout for fires. It is said that once a ninja appeared on the watchtower, sending the people into a frenzy. The watchtower is a landmark that you can't miss.
Nihonbashi is a famous bridge affording a great view of the lively Edo streets, as well as the peaceful Yakatabune (houseboat) that passes below. It is a great place to take photos, but you must be quick or you may become involved in a sword fight between hot-tempered ronin (masterless samurai).
As attested by the old expression, "Fire and quarrels are the flowers of Edo," fires occurred quite frequently in the old town of Edo. Whenever fires occurred, the firefighters sprang into action.
Precious old documents of the "Senkumi" firefighters, which actually existed during the Edo period, are on display in the document center. This historical document center captures the honest, frank expressions of these firefighters.
The Tobigashira (fire-chief) of the Nibangumiuchi Senkumi (the Edo firefighters) was always a popular icon of old Edo, and was even depicted in colorful nishiki-e woodblock prints.
The Tobigashira Fire-Chief's House is now open to all visitors to enter freely.
In the adjacent historical document center, visitors can enjoy documents and exhibits telling exciting tales of the Edo-period firefighters and their deeds.
Ninjas lived in secluded cabins away from Edo for secret training. In the Karasu Yashiki, various ninja weapons and tools are on display for you to take a peek into their enigmatic lifestyle. But always be cautious, as you never know when a ninja may return home and attack you!
Take one step inside, and you will have no idea which way is up and which is down. This ninja training house will deprive you of your sense of gravity. In this illusionary house, the floor is not the floor and the ceiling is not the ceiling. If you survive the training, you may be eligible to become an authentic ninja.
Japanese swords are said not only to be the strongest in the world, but also to be the soul of the samurai. Here you can see the work process of the swordsmith, starting from powdered iron and ending with a beautiful sword. If you can feel the spirit of the samurai in the swords on display, perhaps you are the descendant of a samurai?
Kira Kozuke-no-suke is the infamous villain of Chushingura, a popular revenge story that took place during the Edo period. A tour of this daimyo's (feudal lord's) mansion will reveal 264 years of Edo history through diorama displays. Why not dress up in a Shinsen-gumi (the last samurai group protecting the Shogun) uniform and take a walk through the mansion? Friends who share the ideology may greet you.
During the Edo period, criminals did not receive imprisonment sentences, so the Ro-yashiki was more like a detention center for convicted felons awaiting the death penalty. It is said that the cruel tortures one had to endure in a Ro-yashiki would even silence a crying child. Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura's Ro-yashiki is always recruiting new felons to stay.
