At first glance, this museum appears to be a Western house, but it also incorporates elements of Shinto temples and Buddhist temples, telling the story following the Great Kanto Earthquake that shook the Japanese capital in 1923.
The three-story Tokyo Recovery Memorial Hall was built in the park in 1931 to convey the devastating effects of the historic disaster and the spirit of subsequent rebuilding projects. The south façade reinforced concrete building has six decorative pillars, half of which protrude from the wall, giving the building a majestic appearance. Monsters, a favorite motif of architect Chuta Ito, who was involved in the design, are located atop the four central pillars, as if looking out at visitors.
The exterior is covered with grooved slabs. It looks like a western building, but the roof and other parts of the structure incorporate architectural elements of Shinto temples and Buddhist temples.
The west side of the building has an excellent view from the façade. The series of irregularities are impressive and the decorated vents above the windows emphasize the wall surfaces.
In 1999, the Tokyo government recognized the park's memorial hall as a symbolic place where the souls of the dead are also laid to rest.
