Shigureden, Japanese poetry museum in Ukyo-ku, Japan
Shigureden is a museum at the foot of Mount Ogura that displays a collection of poems from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. The exhibition uses traditional dolls, dioramas, and historical objects to represent each poem visually.
The museum was founded in 2006 and initially combined digital technology with the exhibition. Extensive renovations in 2012 and 2018 transformed it into a more traditional cultural center.
The museum brings the hundred poets to life through handmade dolls dressed in period-accurate clothing. The figures stand within dioramas that recreate the world each poet inhabited.
The museum sits near Tenryuji Temple and Togetsukyo Bridge, making it easy to find. It features a tatami gallery and a terrace cafe where you can enjoy Japanese snacks and light refreshments.
The original version of the museum used interactive technology with more than 70 floor-mounted displays and touch-screen devices. These devices allowed visitors to explore poetry in an innovative way before the museum later adopted a more traditional design.
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