Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (photographed in mid-April,2017)

Cherry blossom season has arrived in Tokyo!

Koganei Park is famous for its cherry blossoms, and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, located in the middle of the park, hosts an annual “Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Festival” from Mar. 21 Wed. To 28 Wed.,  that the whole family can enjoy.

Usually the festival is only held for one day, but this year, the 25th anniversary of the museum’s opening, it will extend to eight days! On top of that, entry will be free on the museum’s anniversary – Mar. 28 Wed.. During spring break, why not stop by Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, where learning is fun!

What’s on for this year’s extended run?

Kenchiku Taiso (Architectural Gymnastics) 〜Olympics Version〜　

Mar.21 Wed.,2018 13:00,  Mar.28 Wed.,2018 13:30

Create the shapes of Olympics-themed buildings with your body!

 Architectural Gymnastics (last year’s appearance)

Buildings quiz -Rally　

Mar.21 Wed.-28 Wed.,2018  11:00-16:00 

Have fun exploring the museum grounds while solving quiz and collecting stamps on the eco bag provided!

Buildings quiz -Rally  (last year’s appearance)

University- cooperation programs

Don’t miss programs run in cooperation with Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) and Hosei University.

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology – cooperation program (last year’s appearance)

In TUAT’s third time participating in the festival, “musset” – the support organisation of the university’s science museum – will talk about the secrets of silk from a scientific perspective, on Mar.21.Wed.,2018  11:00-16:00

Meanwhile, in their first appearance at the festival, students from Hosei University’s engineering and design faculty will split into three teams who will build their own versions of primitive huts at the square by the main entrance over the eight days of the festival, using only wood, branches, unused tiles and other natural materials they find on-site. You’ll have to wait and see whether people will be able to fit inside, and what kind of structures the teams come up with. On the final day the huts will be judged and critiqued before the winning team is decided.

Aside from that, there will be a range of smaller programs that anyone can join in with, including a “Special Talk with the Director” where you can ask anything you want to museum director Terunobu Fujimori; a craft workshop where you can make original magnets using hinoki cypress wood chips from the Tama region; videos looking at the museum’s restored buildings, and videos of the museum grounds using drone footage. Full details of events can be found on the museum’s website.

Beautiful combination of historical building and cherry blossoms only for this season

According to this year’s forecast, the cherry blossoms will be starting to bloom around the beginning of the festival and will be approaching their best as the event progresses.

The beautiful combination of historical buildings and cherry blossoms is something you can only see during this short time, so make the most of your spring with the “Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Festival”!

photographed in March,2015

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Festival

【Dates】  Mar.21 Wed.-28 Wed.,2018

【Hours】 11:00-16:00　※Opening hours : 9:30 -17:30,  Admission is allowed until 30 minutes before closing time.

【Venue】 Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

【URL】   http://www.tatemonoen.jp/event/page/2018_festival.php