Back to the Showa Era! Experience a Nostalgic Era at the “Odaiba Retro Museum”!
A new, timeless tourist attraction has opened in Odaiba, home to a cluster of modern amusement facilities. The “Odaiba Retro Museum,” which opened on the 4th floor of DEX Tokyo Beach on April 25, 2025, is a museum themed around “Showa-era retro.” You can freely stroll through a Showa-era townscape that looks just like a movie set, where you can “view,” “photograph,” and “play with” nostalgic trinkets and everyday items. The “Odaiba Retro Museum” offers a sense of nostalgia to those who remember the past and a fresh sense of wonder to younger generations. Here, we’ll give you a comprehensive look at this charming, hands-on museum.
The things we longed for back then are right here! The world of retro cars, appliances, and records
A 2-minute walk from Odaiba Kaihin Koen Station on the Yurikamome Line brings you to the urban shopping mall DEX Tokyo Beach. On the 4th floor is the Odaiba 1-chome Shopping Street, which recreates a traditional Japanese working-class neighborhood from the Showa 30s, and tucked away in one corner of this area is the “Odaiba Retro Museum,” which we’ll be introducing here. Admission is 1,300 yen for adults, with separate student rates and other discounts available. You can feel the retro atmosphere the moment you walk through the entrance.
As soon as you step inside the museum, you’re greeted by a car with a charming silhouette. Launched in Showa 32 (1962), the Mazda Carol gained popularity, particularly among families, thanks to its luxurious design inspired by European cars and its spacious interior—hard to believe it was a kei car. It’s a car steeped in memories for the fathers of the Showa era who drove their families around in it, and for many, it likely remains a cherished memory as the first car they ever owned.
Right next to the garage where the Mazda Carol is parked is an electronics store. It’s filled with retro appliances you rarely see anymore, such as National color TVs and Sony cassette decks.
This area used to be lined with movie theaters, record stores, and other shops. Unlike today, it was common for movie theaters in the Showa era to screen two or three films back-to-back.
The record store is lined with classic albums by stars of yesteryear, ranging from legendary divas to one-of-a-kind singer-songwriters. I’ve heard that if you ask a staff member, you can even listen to your favorite records there.
Next to the record store stood an old-fashioned stone police box. The box, named the “Wangan-dori Police Box,” had its iconic red light shining brightly.
Let the dazzling neon lights beckon! A tour of nostalgic entertainment spots
"Pachinko Lucky," open for business next to the tobacco shop, beckons adults inside. What catches the eye are the large neon signs and the flower wreaths celebrating its grand reopening. During the Showa era, pachinko parlors were also landmarks in downtown areas.
From the period of rapid economic growth through the bubble economy, pachinko parlors were extremely popular as a casual form of entertainment. At “Pachinko Lucky,” you can actually play machines from that era, such as “hane-mono” and “kenri-mono” models. Of course, please note that even if you win, you won’t receive any prizes.
Diagonally across from the pachinko parlor was a small rest area with a ramen food cart, a cigarette vending machine, and wooden benches. The enamel sign also had a certain charm.
In the area modeled after a cabaret dressing room, you'll find kamo uniforms, sailor uniforms, idol costumes, and more—so you can even enjoy cosplay.
Next door to the cabaret, a snack bar is open for business. A disco ball adds to the lively atmosphere. Snack bars were popular as casual, down-to-earth social spots where people could easily feel at home by engaging in lighthearted conversation with the friendly owner and regulars.
The old-fashioned public bathhouse, with a painting of Mount Fuji on the wall, was furnished with head-mounted hair dryers—a sight rarely seen these days—and antique massage chairs.
Head to the paradise for mischievous boys and girls! Let your dreams and sense of play come alive again.
After walking a full loop through town, I made my way back to the area near the garage. The trees and signs are all meticulously crafted, making you feel as if you’re truly in a Showa-era town. As for the museum’s exhibits, in addition to displaying actual vintage items that were once in use, I’ve heard there are also signs and household items that were deliberately made to look worn to give them a Showa-era feel. The sight of the retro townscape bathed in the light of dusk further enhances the nostalgic atmosphere.
Across from the garage was a toy store filled with nostalgic hobbies. The Shinkansen game set up in front of the store involved using a 10-yen coin as a Shinkansen train and flicking the lever to guide it from the starting point to the finish line without dropping it into any holes. The key to winning was finding just the right amount of force when flicking the lever.
In the area recreating a children's room from the Showa era, you can reconnect with your inner child and relax comfortably in a tatami-mat room.
The bookshelf also held shonen manga magazines from that era. I feel an urge to lie down and lose myself in reading them.
Between the public bathhouse and the children’s room lies a narrow alleyway that evokes the atmosphere of a Showa-era town. It’s a sight that “alleyway enthusiasts” will find irresistible!
Across from the children’s room is a recreation of a Showa-era home kitchen. With no dishwasher or food processor, washing dishes and cooking were done primarily by hand. The space was also much smaller than it is today, so it took some ingenuity to store enough dishes and pots for a family of four or five.
Due to postwar housing conditions and changes in lifestyle, the dining kitchen—a space that combined cooking and dining—became widespread during the Shōwa era. The mesh covers placed over prepared dishes were called “haichō” and were used to protect the food from insects and dust.
The black telephone placed in a corner of the kitchen-dining area was a round, rotary-dial landline. To dial a number, you would insert your finger into each numbered hole, turn the dial, and then let go so it would spring back—repeating this process over and over.
Believe it or not, the "Odaiba Retro Museum" even features an elementary school. You can explore the science prep room, the hallways, the restrooms, and even the classrooms where the children learn.
I’m sure many people feel a sense of nostalgia for children’s chairs and desks. At the front of the classroom was a large blackboard. I remember the smell of chalk dust and chalk erasers lingering in the air.
Pictures and calligraphy by elementary school students were also on display in the hallway. There is also a restroom at the end of the hallway.
A Showa-Era Treasure Hunt! Let's Go Find Nostalgic Items and Retro Souvenirs
The “Odaiba Retro Museum” is all about the finer details. The Showa-era items scattered throughout the town are sure to make anyone’s heart skip a beat. Whether you’re on your own, losing track of time as you immerse yourself in nostalgic memories, or having a lively time with family and friends, you can enjoy the museum in whatever way suits you best.
Next to the museum is “Fancy Shop Retrochika,” where visitors can purchase nostalgic retro goods and souvenirs. A popular item among adults who grew up during the Showa era is a hard case for heated tobacco products designed to resemble a Famicom game cartridge box. Keychains and other items are reportedly popular with students on school trips.
Keychains designed to look like hotel room keys also make perfect souvenirs. Showa-era items have a warmth and unique charm that are characteristic of that era.
The “Odaiba Retro Museum” offered a new kind of hands-on entertainment for both those who lived through that era and younger generations, allowing them to enjoy a culture and atmosphere they’d never experienced before with a sense of fresh wonder. Visitors are free to take photos anywhere inside the museum. Social media is buzzing with posts tagged “#OdaibaRetroMuseum,” and the retro, unique photos are gaining popularity. Since the museum gets very crowded on weekends and holidays, we recommend visiting on weekday evenings—when there are relatively fewer visitors—if you want to take your time enjoying the museum or want to take your time snapping photos for social media. Why not spend a special, timeless moment at the “Odaiba Retro Museum,” a new attraction in Odaiba?