Special Days in Tokyo: A Decorated City and Its People
This special exhibit at the Kokugakuin Museum features rare examples of woodblock prints from the 1800s that are so perfectly preserved, the brilliant colors look like they were printed yesterday!
They depict the citizenry having fun, watching impromptu skits at the Niwaka Festival in Yoshiwara…
visiting the Inari Shrine for the Hatsu-uma festival…
carrying the portable o-mikoshi shrine through the streets for the Tenno Matsuri…
watching a parade of elaborate floats in the Kanda Matsuri
tying wishes to bamboo at the Tanabata Festival…
and the entertainments at General Ulysses S. Grant’s welcome ceremony in Ueno.
There’s a wonderful scroll of a woman dressed to celebrate each major flower season…
and charming glimpses of people having fun in private. Playing games together at New Year’s…
picking out fabric for new kimonos…
and trying on new clothes.
And while you’re there, check out the rest of the Kokugakuin Museum galleries—they’re well worth seeing!
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Special Days in Tokyo: A Decorated City and its People
Where: Kokugakuin Museum
Dates: April 26 – June 22, 2025
Open: Every day but closed Mondays
Hours: 10:00 – 18:00
Admission: FREE
The entrance to this museum is easy to miss. It’s around the corner and down the steps to the lower level of the Kokugakuin University building.
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Amazing. Thanks for sharing