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Japanese poetry includes various styles, such as haiku (”o‹å) and tanka (’Z‰Ì), and is one of the most widely known forms of Japanese literature. The first compilation of Japanese poems, the Manyoshu, dates back to the Nara Period in the 8th century. It contains about 4500 poems written by royalty and commoners alike.

Poetry remained a popular activity over the centuries, such as during the Heian Period (9th to 12th centuries), when composing and reciting poetry at garden parties was a pastime with scholars and the nobility. In the Edo Period, the celebrated poet Matsuo Basho popularized haiku. Later, the Meiji Period poet Masaoka Shiki introduced modern forms of haiku and tanka.

The following are a few popular poetry-related sites which travelers can visit across Japan:

Iga Ueno

Asuka