Exploring Unusual Spots: The Emotionally Stirring Journey to 1962’s Danchi

I’m home!”

Salaryman Kenjiro takes pride in coming home to this house. He lives in Tokiwadaira Danchi with his wife and child.

Tokiwadaira Danchi has attracted attention as “Tokiwadaira New Town, a satellite housing city born in the countryside,” and it’s a state-of-the-art Danchi(housing complex) with flush toilets. Nowadays, many people long to live in Danchi.

When does this story take place? It’s set in 1962.

Imagining Japanese Life in a 1962 Danchi (Housing Complex)

When he arrives home, his wife is in the kitchen preparing dinner. She loves this kitchen.

When they first moved into the house, his wife was delighted, saying, “The gas stove, which can light a fire without needing firewood, is very convenient.”

The rice cooker they bought when they moved into this house is new. Their modern kitchen is their pride and joy. Now, he’ll watch some TV while waiting for dinner to be ready.

His favorite space is the living room. With a record player and the latest TV, it has everything to heal his tiredness from work.

Just as he was about to take a deep breath, his one-year-old daughter, who was sleeping in the next room, started crying. He picked her up and comforted her.

“There, there. It’s all right now.”

This room is also the family’s bedroom, where they lay out futons and sleep. It’s a bit cramped for three people, but it’s their dream to live in Danchi, so they can’t help it.

Now that their daughter is awake, they’ll take a bath before dinner.

“Ah, a warm bath is the best.”

・
・
・
・

This is just my imaginative story. However, surely, that’s how they lived back then. And wooden bathtubs are amazing.

Experience 1962 Danchi Life at the Emotional Experience Museum, “Matsudo Municipal Museum”

I visited the Matsudo Municipal Museum in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture. The museum is billed as an “Emotional Experience Museum,” and one of its exhibits is this Danchi.

“Danchi” is a Japanese word that refers to a type of large-scale residential housing complex. These complexes usually consist of several buildings with numerous apartment units, often with shared amenities such as playgrounds, parks, and community centers.

The Danchi exhibited at Matsudo Municipal Museum is Tokiwadaira Danchi in Matsudo City, completed in 1962. The interior of the rooms recreates the life of a 1962 salaryman’s family.

As you can see, the museum lives up to its “Emotional Experience” name with an incredibly accurate recreation. Socks were even hanging on the balcony.

Can you believe this is inside a museum? It’s amazing.

Of course, the museum’s exhibits aren’t limited to Danchi; various displays unravel the history of Matsudo City. However, personally, the highlight is this Danchi exhibit.

LOCATION MAP

The Matsudo Municipal Museum is located over an hour away from Shinjuku, making it a somewhat distant destination. However, for those who want to experience life in a 1962 Danchi, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Please check the official website calendar for the museum’s closing days.
URL: Matsudo Municipal Museum