From daily necessities and fresh food to materials and machinery, all sorts of cargo are transported every day by land, sea, and air. The Logistics Museum focuses on the past, present, and future of this "logistics" system, which is essential to our daily lives. The museum's predecessor was the Transport History Office, established in 1958 within the headquarters of Nippon Express. On August 11, 1998, it opened in Takanawa 4-chome as Japan's first museum dedicated to logistics. Join us on a visit to the Logistics Museum as we introduce its valuable archives, dioramas, and other exhibits.

The Logistics Museum, operated by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for Forwarding Promotion, is about a 7-minute walk from both Shinagawa Station (JR and Keikyu Lines) and Takanawadai Station (Toei Subway). Its eye-catching red brick-style exterior makes it easy to spot.

As we step inside, we're greeted by the mascot character, Cargo-kun. Displayed in front of the first-floor reception is a large "kuruma-ishi" (wheel stone). These stones were laid on roads exclusively for ox-drawn carts during the Edo period and have grooves matching the width of the wheels, resembling indented rails. To prevent roads from becoming muddy and to preserve them, these "kuruma-ishi" were apparently laid over a roughly 12 km stretch of the Tokaido highway between Kyoto and Otsu.

The museum consists of two basement floors and two above-ground floors. The first floor and the first basement floor are exhibition rooms, the second floor houses a library corner and a video exhibition room, and the second basement floor is a repository.

In the "History of Logistics" exhibition room on the first floor, you can learn about the progress of logistics, mainly from the Edo period to around 1970.

Logistics is the rational management and execution of the flow of goods from production until they reach the consumer. Though the items transported and the means of transport have changed over time, it has always remained a vital lifeline connecting people and goods.

During the Edo period, goods were transported along highways primarily by people, horses, and oxen. For instance, official cargo like letters from the shogunate was carried in a relay style between post towns by couriers known as "tsugi-bikyaku." Ippei Komidori, a curator at the Logistics Museum, explains, "By running in relays, the tsugi-bikyaku could cover the distance between Edo and Osaka in as little as three days. On the other hand, there were also commercial couriers called 'machi-bikyaku' who mainly transported official and commercial goods on horseback. With machi-bikyaku transport, the horse and its handler would be switched at the next post town, but the transport supervisor, called a 'sairyo,' who rode the horse, would accompany the cargo all the way to its final destination."

Surprisingly, it wasn't until the Meiji period that horse-drawn carts became commonly used. During the Edo period, the shogunate, in principle, prohibited the use of wheels on highways. Carts were pulled by either oxen or people, and their use was restricted to certain areas. "In an effort to introduce Kyoto's ox-cart transport system to Edo, the Tokugawa shogunate summoned ox handlers (ushimochi) from Kyoto and had them settle in Takanawa Ushimachi, the area around the present-day Takanawa Gateway Station," says Mr. Komidori.

Ships also played a major role in transporting goods during the Edo period. A type of cargo vessel called the "bezaisen" was the star of maritime transport at the time. "A horse could carry a maximum load of 150 kg, but the largest class of bezaisen could carry 300 tons—2,000 times that amount. However, it wasn't all positive; with no weather forecasts, there was a risk of shipwreck. According to one theory, about 5% of ships were lost in some form of disaster," says Mr. Komidori.

Logistics evolved rapidly entering the Meiji period, and in 1871, a national postal system was launched between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. However, the "hikyaku" couriers who had thrived in the Edo period fiercely opposed it. "Later, following a proposal by Maejima Hisoka, the founder of the postal system, the couriers accepted a deal where the state would handle letters, while the couriers would form a company to handle parcel transport. The company formed by these couriers in 1872 was the Riku-un Moto Kaisha, the predecessor of Nippon Express. This could be considered one of the major turning points in Japanese logistics," says Mr. Komidori.

Transportation machinery like railways and automobiles also developed during the Meiji period. In 1872, the railway between Shimbashi and Yokohama opened, and freight transport by rail began the following year. "There is even an ukiyo-e print depicting cargo being handled at Shimbashi Station. While goods could now be transported from station to station by rail, loading and unloading still had to be done by hand," says Mr. Komidori.

The wave of modernization also reached water transport. During the Meiji period, steamships were introduced on major rivers and lakes throughout Japan. The Naikoku Tsu-un Kaisha's "Tsu-un Maru" operated on the Edo, Tone, Kasumigaura, and Kitaura rivers, transporting goods and people.

Entering the Showa period, Kokusai Tsu-un Kabushikigaisha—formed from the merger of three companies including Naikoku Tsu-un—partnered with the Ministry of Railways to launch a door-to-door small parcel delivery service called "taku-atsukai." "This service can be considered the ancestor of modern home delivery, but it eventually became unsustainable due to the impact of the war," says Mr. Komidori.

The packing materials of the time also evoke a sense of history. Until the 1950s, wooden boxes and straw were mainly used for packing.

The "History of Logistics" exhibition room offers a chance to learn about the history of logistics, mainly from the Edo to the Showa periods. For history buffs, in particular, it may provide a new perspective on Japan's pre-modern and modern history.

In the "Modern Logistics" exhibition room on the first basement floor, you can get in touch with the "now" of the ever-evolving logistics industry. Approximately 2.36 million people work in Japan's logistics industry, which transports about 4.2 billion tons of cargo annually (as of FY2022).

Models of trucks, a cornerstone of logistics. At a 1/25 scale, three types are lined up: a home delivery collection/delivery vehicle, a medium-sized home delivery truck, and a large truck. They were apparently made by a professional modeler and are crafted with incredible attention to detail.

The centerpiece of the Logistics Museum is the giant diorama offering a panoramic view of land, sea, and air logistics terminals. "It was created when the museum first opened in 1998. When people approach, sensors activate, and trains, trucks, and gantry cranes start to move. You can follow the function of each part on the accompanying video terminals," explains Mr. Komidori.

The diorama condenses a full day into about 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Even when night falls, the trains and trucks keep moving, clearly showing that logistics is a 24-hour, non-stop operation.

There is also a corner where you can enjoy learning about logistics through quizzes and games. One game involves using a joystick to transport cargo to its destination. Following instructions from Cargo-kun, you decide on the ideal means of transport and route while considering the characteristics of the cargo.

There's also a hands-on corner with a jumbo logistics puzzle and a logistics town sheet to help children easily understand the system. The selection of picture books about logistics was also extensive.

Online shopping is an indispensable part of modern life, and there were even robots here that are active in e-commerce fulfillment centers. A robot called a "Drive" lifts and carries a shelf containing products, called a "Pod." "With the cooperation of Amazon Japan G.K., we are exhibiting a full-scale model. Previously in fulfillment center warehouses, workers had to manually retrieve items from shelves. With the introduction of robots, items can now be picked automatically. This eliminates the need for workers to walk around the warehouse searching for products," says Mr. Komidori.

In the "Modern Logistics" exhibition room, you can also watch video interviews with people working in the logistics industry and view valuable archival footage.

The video exhibition room on the second floor screens films about logistics, often during special events. For group tours, visitors typically watch a video here before exploring the rest of the museum.

In a corner of the video exhibition room, there was also a section where you could transform into an Edo period "machi-bikyaku" (town courier). A replica of the "sairyo's" (transport supervisor's) costume is available to try on.

A "paisuke" basket and a carrying pole (foreground), which were used to transport earth, sand, and coal. This is a replica of what was used for tasks like unloading coal from ships at the port. You can experience carrying a load totaling 13.6 kg, including the paisuke and pole. It was surprisingly difficult to keep my balance.

In front of the first-floor reception, you can find souvenirs like postcards featuring items from the collection and snack sets. They seem perfect for commemorating your visit.

The Logistics Museum clearly explains the logistics of various eras, from the activities of couriers in the Edo period to the development of railways and trucks after the Meiji era, the evolution of transportation that supported high economic growth, and today's cutting-edge logistics systems. I was able to learn not only about the process of how goods are transported but also how society and the economy have been supported by and developed alongside logistics. In recent years, there has been the so-called "2024 Problem" in logistics, related to the cap on truck drivers' overtime hours, and curator Mr. Komidori says it's important to raise public awareness of logistics itself. "Long ago, the word 'logistics' wasn't common. Nearly 30 years ago, when this museum was being planned, I heard that people would say, 'With a name like the Logistics Museum, I don't know what kind of museum it is.' Compared to the past, the word 'logistics' is now accepted without sounding out of place. We hope to continue providing a place that gives people an opportunity to think about logistics," says Mr. Komidori. They are planning a craft event for children during summer vacation and a concert by the JR Freight Music Club in September. Whether you are interested in logistics or not, why not visit the Logistics Museum to experience its history and depth?

<Logistics Museum>
Address: 4-7-15 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Last admission at 4:30 PM)
Closed: Every Monday and the 4th Tuesday of each month (if a national holiday or substitute holiday, closed the following day), the day after a national holiday, New Year holidays, and during exhibition changes and collection maintenance.
Admission: Adults (high school students and up) 200 yen, Seniors (65 and over) 100 yen, Junior high school students and younger are free / Groups (20 or more paying visitors): Adults (high school students and up) 100 yen, Seniors (65 and over) 50 yen.

*Please check the official website below for details.
https://www.lmuse.or.jp/