Haiseiden, Iga
Facts and practical information
The Haiseiden is a wooden building in Iga City, Mie Prefecture, commemorating the 300th anniversary of Matsuo Basho's birth. It is located in Ueno Park.
It was built in 1942, designed by architect Chuta Ito. The exterior of the building was designed by Chuta Ito based on the idea of Katsu Kawasaki, and is said to resemble the traveling figure of Matsuo Basho. The roof of the upper level represents a hat, the lower level a face, the lower level a skirt and robe, the hall a leg, and the pillars of the corridor a walking stick and legs. The lower level is octagonal in plan and the upper level is circular in plan, and the roof is cypress bark. The interior is decorated with specially selected haiku poems that will be awarded on the day of the Basho Festival.
On October 12, the anniversary of Basho's death, Iga City will hold a Basho Festival, where a life-size statue of Basho will be unveiled, and awards will be given for outstanding haiku.
On March 19, 2008, it was designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Mie Prefecture, and in 2010, it was designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Iga
Mie