🗺️ Bajiao Memorial Hall, Jiangdong District江東区芭蕉記念館

Matsuo Bashō was a haiku master active in Japan during the 1600s. To commemorate this haiku poet, the Kōtō Ward established the Bashō Memorial Museum in Fukagawa, a place deeply connected to him. Bashō lived in Fukagawa and wrote the world-renowned travel essay "Oku no Hosomichi" (奥の細道) there. This travelogue recounts the poet's observations and thoughts as he journeyed from Fukagawa through regions such as Tōhoku and Hokuriku. The museum is built on the site where Bashō once lived and created, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the poet's life while learning about Matsuo Bashō's biography and creative journey through explanatory panels, restored items, and materials related to haiku literature. After the high tide brought by the typhoon in September 1917 receded, people discovered the legendary "stone frog" that Bashō cherished near the Bashō Inari Shrine in Kōtō Ward, Tokiwadai 1-chome. In 1921, the Tokyo Prefecture designated the site where the stone frog was unearthed as the "Bashō Ōk池遺跡" (Bashō Old Pond Ruins). The "Bashō Hall" on the garden's artificial hill was rebuilt in 1943 by the tenth successor of the haiku school "Taihakudō," Hibino Momotsuki, on the site of Bashō's hermitage to mark the 250th anniversary of his death. Because it is a stone structure, it survived the Tokyo air raids. Additionally, from the "Bashō Hermitage Historical Outlook Garden," one can enjoy the view of the confluence of the Sumida River and Onagi River. When visiting the Bashō Memorial Museum, you can come here to appreciate the beautiful scenery that Bashō once gazed upon. After the museum closes, the Bashō statue in the garden automatically rotates under the lights, which is very interesting. The explanations at each exhibit are available in both Japanese and English. If you scan the QR code with your smartphone, you can also listen to audio guides. Furthermore, the reception desk is equipped with voice translators.

You can visit precious materials and collections related to the haiku poet Matsuo Bashō. There is a display of the "stone frog," which is said to have been cherished by Bashō. Don't miss the beautiful garden scenery that offers a panoramic view of the confluence of the Sumida River and the Onagigawa River.