[Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture] Stimulate your five senses at the "Sensory Museum"! Experience unknown sensations in a mysterious space

The "Sensation Museum" is located in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. It is a museum with the five senses as its main theme: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste

The museum features exhibits by artists from a variety of industries that appeal to the five senses, allowing visitors to feel rather than think, as art appreciation should be

Many of the exhibits are not difficult to think about, but rather have an intuitive impact, making them popular with a wide range of people, from children to adults

This time, we will introduce the charm of this sensory museum

 The Senses Museum is made up of three areas

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The museum is made up of three areas: the "Dialogue Zone" (a space for physical sensations), the "Monologue Zone" (a space for meditation), and the "Traverse Zone" that connects these two areas

Dialogue Zone

In the dialogue zone, you can actually touch the pieces and get a sense of the maker's intentions and inspiration. There are three highlights, the first of which is the creative musical instrument corner

(1) Creative instruments

Here, creative musical instruments made from pipes, wood, and bamboo are on display. You can actually play the instruments by hitting them with your hands or plucking them with your fingers. Some of the instruments produce soothing sounds, such as birdsong and flowing water

There are several original instruments, some of which are over 3 meters tall. When playing an instrument, the tones of other people using original instruments blend together, creating unexpected harmonies. One of the attractions of this corner is the possibility of improvising original songs

(2) Circle 'n' Circle

Right next to the creative instruments is a large wheel-shaped piece called "Circle 'n' Circle," which was also created with an interesting concept

You can sit on your back in the center of the wheel, hold the handlebars with your hands, and place your feet on the pedals. As you move your arms and legs, you can draw with chalk on the wall next to the work

When you turn the handlebars or pedals, the chalk attached to the work moves nicely, allowing you to draw lines on the wall. Try your best to draw the best lines

(3) Space and Sound
The third highlight of the Dialogue Zone is "Space and Sound." You enter a pitch-black room and feel the space through sound. It is a three-dimensional virtual space.

It's very strange and fascinating that you can sense the shape of a space not through your eyes, but through sound

The sound plays according to the position of your hands. When you move your hands, the sound moves, and the space changes three-dimensionally. It's hard to explain in words. It's the kind of experience that's best experienced by anyone, so I recommend giving it a try

1-2. Monologue Zone

The Monologue Zone features exhibits that invite you into a world of meditation through sound, light, and scent

(1) Wall-Through
In the exhibit "Wall-Through," you can have the strange experience of passing through a black wall as if you were invisible, even though the mirror on the wall indicates that there is a black wall in the direction you are moving.

(2) Earth Garden
: The floors and stairs of the Earth Garden are covered with white gravel. If you sit on the stairs and look down, the city will appear to float in the air, using its shadows to create a different appearance as the sun sets.

(3) Water Garden
: In the Water Garden, the rippling water on the floor is reflected on the walls and ceiling, making you feel as if you are underwater. The scent of lotus flowers is pleasant and soothing.

(4) Fragrant Forest

The most popular exhibit in the Monologue Zone is "Forest of Fragrance," where 300,000 strands of paper hang from the ceiling

There are seven white pillars that resemble tree trunks, and if you put your face in a hole in each pillar, you can smell the scent of the local Iwadeyama mountain

Traverse Zone

The Traverse Zone is a space that connects the Dialogue Zone and the Monologue Zone

(1) Dark Forest
: The Dark Forest is a pitch black space with only a tiny amount of light.

This is an exhibit where you move along a handrail in the dark. The handrail is not straight, but rather curved. Occasionally, when you hold onto the handrail, you can see holes

There is an object inside the hole, and you can enjoy it not just by looking at it but by touching it

(2) Air Traverse
After passing through the dark forest, a dazzling light suddenly catches your eye. You enter the Air Traverse, a space surrounded by mirrors and glass on all sides. It is complex and intricate, and natural light pours in through the glass.

You will feel as if you are inside a kaleidoscope. Your image and that of those around you are reflected in the geometrically intricate mirrors, and the scenery changes as you move forward

Summary of the Senses Museum

The "Sensation Museum" offers a different artistic experience than ordinary museums or art galleries. In a tranquil space, you will be reminded of the five senses that you don't usually pay much attention to

There are many intuitively interesting exhibits that children can enjoy, but as the experience is a relaxed and detached experience from reality, many adults linger for a while, surrounded by mysterious sounds and scents

If you're feeling bored or used to your daily life, why not try stimulating your five senses at the Senses Museum and have a new experience? Even when you return to your normal life, the same scenery you've always seen may look different

INFORMATION

sugar

A web writer who loves sightseeing. He is dedicated to exploring local gourmet food. Recently, I've been researching famous Japanese sweets shops such as manju and dango. Going around the basements of department stores is my daily routine.