Kokin Denju no Sato Field Museum is an open-air museum dedicated to traditional Japanese poetry, known as waka, located in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. It preserves and makes use of the area’s cultural heritage and natural environment associated with the Tō clan, which ruled the Gujo region for approximately 340 years from the Kamakura period (1185–1333) through the Muromachi period (1336–1573).
One of the museum’s main attractions is the Tō Clan Residence Garden, designated a Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. Built on the site of the Tō clan’s former residence, this elegant pond garden invites visitors to enjoy the beauty of traditional Japanese landscape design.
The grounds also feature a peony garden, the Shinowaki walking trail, and areas where wildflowers grow naturally. Together, these attractions make the museum a wonderful place to appreciate nature, history, and Japanese culture. The site is particularly beautiful during cherry blossom season, the peony season, and autumn foliage.
The museum grounds contain several important historical sites, including the nationally designated Tō Clan Residence Garden and the remains of Shinowaki Castle, which is designated a historic site by Gifu Prefecture.
Visitors can also explore the peony garden, walk along the Shinowaki trail, and discover areas of naturally growing wildflowers. The changing scenery throughout the year makes this an appealing destination in every season.
Events related to traditional poetry and nature are held throughout the year. Within the grounds, Restaurant Momochidori serves authentic French cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients, allowing visitors to enjoy a relaxing meal surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Designed to make generous use of light, water, and open space, this outdoor museum offers an immersive introduction to the world of Japanese poetry. Facilities include a Waka Literature Museum with a distinctive, gallery-style layout and a poetry library containing research books and other materials related to Japanese verse.
The museum’s theme is closely connected to Tō Tsuneyori, the ninth-generation head of the Tō clan. The family governed this area for approximately 340 years during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. Tsuneyori is regarded as the originator of Kokin Denju, a tradition in which secret interpretations of classical poetry, including the Kokin Wakashū, were transmitted from teacher to disciple.
The Kokin Wakashū, compiled in the early 10th century, is one of Japan’s most important imperial poetry anthologies. Through its exhibitions and natural surroundings, the museum introduces visitors to the history, beauty, and cultural significance of waka poetry.
The remains of Shinowaki Castle, once the stronghold of the Tō clan, had long been known, but the location of the clan’s residential compound remained uncertain.
In June 1979, during agricultural land improvement work at the foot of the hill below Shinowaki Castle, numerous pottery fragments and building foundation stones were discovered. These finds confirmed the location of the Tō clan’s former residence.
Subsequent archaeological excavations uncovered the remains of a remarkable garden. Recognized for its academic and historical value as a garden associated with a medieval warrior family, the site was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1987.
The garden has been preserved in almost its original form, with a spacious lawn and pond area. Visitors can appreciate the landscape design and imagine the setting in which the Tō clan once lived.
The Waka Literature Museum introduces the history of Japanese poetry, with a particular focus on the Kokin Denju tradition. Ten exhibition panels trace approximately 1,300 years of literary history, from the era of the Man’yōshū, Japan’s oldest surviving poetry anthology, to contemporary poetry.
Each period is presented through the works and lives of representative poets, providing an accessible overview of the development of Japanese verse.
Another highlight is a 36-meter-long illustrated scroll based on the Kokin Wakashū, inspired by the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets, a celebrated group of outstanding poets in Japanese literary history. The scroll introduces notable poems from the anthology through illustrations.
The collection also includes poetry slips, letters, and other materials associated with modern and contemporary poets such as Akiko Yosano and Bokusui Wakayama, as well as a folding screen depicting the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
The Tō Clan Memorial Museum presents historical materials related to the family that ruled this region during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods.
Exhibits include artifacts excavated from the Tō clan residence, historical documents associated with the Kokin Denju tradition, and poetry slips bearing imperial poems. These collections provide insight into the family’s history and its important role in preserving Japan’s classical poetry traditions.
Shinowaki Mountain Villa is a spacious building with a steel-frame structure and a copper-sheet roof, retaining some of its traditional thatched-roof features. The roof was originally entirely thatched, but sections were replaced with copper sheeting as the original materials deteriorated.
Inside, large panes of glass and overhead skylights create a bright, open atmosphere. Seasonal decorations in the alcove provide changing views of Japanese interior aesthetics throughout the year.
From the veranda, visitors can admire the reflection of Mount Shinowaki in the pond and watch dragonflies gliding above the water. The villa is used for a variety of cultural events, including poetry gatherings, tea ceremonies, and concerts.
Restaurant Momochidori serves authentic French cuisine prepared by a chef from the local area, using ingredients sourced from the surrounding region.
The restaurant’s name comes from a bird mentioned in the secret teachings of the Kokin Denju tradition. The name evokes the image of many different birds gathering and singing together.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offer beautiful views of the surrounding landscape, including Japanese maple trees, flowers, and bamboo groves. The scenery changes with the seasons and the time of day, making every visit a distinctive experience.
Guests can enjoy carefully prepared French dishes while taking in the peaceful natural surroundings, making the restaurant an appealing place to relax during a visit to the museum.