With the arrival of warmer days, a sense of adventure bloomed, beckoning me to explore corners of Oita Prefecture I’d yet to discover. On a warm 22-degree Sunday, I answered that call, taking a 20-minute drive to Bungotakada. There, within the town, lies Showa no Machi (昭和の町), a meticulously preserved district that vividly recreates the Showa period (1926-1989), an era of extraordinary transformation spanning from pre-war Japan through World War II and into the vibrant bubble of the 80s.
Showa Theme Park
My first stop in Showa no Machi was Showa Roman Gura (昭和ロマン蔵), a Showa-themed park with a retro toy museum, a scaled-down model of a shopping street, a replicated Showa home, and a brand-new TeamLab gallery perfect for kids.
Dagashiya Dream Museum
Housed within a 1935 rice warehouse is the Dagashiya Dream Museum, also known as Dakashiyanoyume Museum (夢博物館). This museum is a treasure trove of Showa-era nostalgia, displaying over 200,000 pieces of memorabilia from the Showa era. With toys, models, and painted movie posters, the museum offers a comprehensive glimpse into the Showa period.
Beyond the displays, I explored an indoor Showa street featuring scaled-down facades of candy shops, a beauty parlor, a dentist’s office, and even a classroom that I could enter and interact with.
The highlight, however, is what I will call the ‘Showa Day’ room, located in the Showa no Yumechi 3 Chrome Hall. This immersive space features an entirely constructed Showa-era residence with a kitchen, living area, and a traditional Goemonburo cauldron bath. The room’s synchronized lighting takes visitors through the daily rhythms of the era, from morning birds atdawn to the bustling sounds of the marketplace during the day and, finally, the chirps of crickets at dusk.
Explore the authentic retro streets of Showa Town
Leaving the museum, I stepped onto the authentic streets of Showa no Machi, a place that instantly resonated with a sense of nostalgia. The town, with its meticulously kept storefronts and the charming glow of 1950s-style streetlights, felt like a living museum. A stroll along the 550-meter covered shopping street, where retro goods and old-time melodies filled the air, offered a truly immersive journey into the heart of the Showa era.
Where was Himitsu no Akko chan?
I didn’t see her, but they were playing the opening theme song on speakers!!!