Hollywood of Japan

If you missed the geisha and the maiko in Kyoto, didn’t see the samurai at Osaka-jo and failed to catch the ninja gliding across your rooftop, then an afternoon at Toei Uzumasa Eigamura Movie Museum is a must.

Nestled near the mountains of Kyoto is Uzumasa, a place that truly once was the “Hollywood of Japan”. Today it’s the home of Toei Uzumasa Eigamura Movie Museum (also known as Kyoto Studio Park and Toei Movie Land or simply Eigamura). Literally one massive film set and theme park in one, this is where, according to the brochure, numerous movies and over 200 television “period dramas” are filmed every year.

Unlike walking through preserved neighbourhoods such as Gion, Asakusa or Kurashiki in Okayama, where cars and konbinis are found in abundance, walking through this park probably gives you the most “authentic” impression of what Japan was like in ancient times. Here there are whole streets depicting Edo period town scenes. As you walk down the dirt streets you can enter into the traditional courthouse, the conventional school, the fire station, a small port town, the large theatre, the old style inns, the Meiji Period police box and part of the former Yoshiwara red light district. There is even a replica of the infamous old Nihonbashi Bridge.

Actual film shooting still takes place intermittently throughout the town and park visitors are welcome to observe the action. When the sets are free, visitors are allowed to climb into the sets, handle the props and discover the hidden actor within.

Even if there is no filming taking place there is plenty of action. Geisha and samurai wander the streets and happily pose with visitors. Ninjas fight in comical performances. Samurais bare their swords in “Crash!! Super Samurai Show”. At “Moviemaking Secrets – True – False” you learn how special effects are created in TV dramas.

If you are really keen to personally experience Edo Period life, you can also temporarily turn into a samurai, a ninja or a geisha with costumes, including wigs and makeup, and walk around the movie land to photograph and be photographed on the streets or on the sets. The cost to dress up varies from ¥2,000 to ¥16,000 depending on the attire.

If you’re interested in the history of Japanese film culture, directors and actors then visit the exhibitions in the Movie Culture Hall. You won’t be missing much if you don’t try the 3-D simulator or the haunted house (available at an additional cost). Finally, don’t leave without visiting the Super Hero Land, where all kinds of super heroes, from Transformers to Power Rangers to the Masked Rider to Toei cartoon characters, should bring back fond memories from your childhood.

Text & photos: Laura Markslag