Take off your shoes, and step into an authentic silk merchant's home from Kyoto, Japan. Experience Japanese family life, customs, ceremonies, art, architecture and seasonal events in this 100-year-old house. During busy days, we offer guided tours of the Japanese House to accommodate the crowds, and do not offer the seasonal activity.
Japanese House has limited hours. Please check the specific hours on the day of your visit.
お月見と俳句 Make your own Haiku about the Big Autumn Moon!
In the Japanese House this month, learn about the custom of Mid-Autumn Moon celebrations and Tsuki-usagi (a rabbit in the moon) and write your own haiku to appreciate the autumn season.
Haiku is one form of traditional poetry, practiced in Japan for hundreds of years. What makes a haiku? There are a total of 17 syllables (five, seven, and five syllables), and at least one word in a haiku should refer to the season.
Sample haiku by Museum staff, inspired by the Mid-Autumn Moon:
Big September moon
Beautiful, bright, and orange
Hanging low and large