Japan’s iconic woodblock prints are getting a digital makeover in Gifu, where an immersive exhibition will transform centuries-old artwork into moving, larger-than-life displays.
Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition Gifu opens November 6 at the Gifu City Museum of History, inviting visitors to step inside the world of ukiyo-e, the traditional Japanese art form that flourished during the Edo period (1603–1868).
The exhibition draws on more than 300 works by celebrated artists, including Katsushika Hokusai, best known for his famous Great Wave print, and Utagawa Hiroshige, whose landscapes helped shape international perceptions of Japan. Using 3D computer animation and projection mapping, the exhibition reimagines these works across a series of immersive visual spaces.
Visitors can explore different themes inspired by ukiyo-e, including Japan’s distinctive indigo-blue palette, elegant landscapes, colorful scenes, and legendary heroes. Rather than viewing prints behind glass, guests experience the artwork projected around them, with animated imagery bringing the scenes to life.
The Gifu edition also features content created specifically for the region, including moving ukiyo-e scenes inspired by Oda Nobunaga, the famous warlord associated with Gifu Castle, and the area's traditional cormorant fishing heritage. Explanatory displays introduce visitors to local ukiyo-e works, adding a regional perspective to the broader history of Japanese printmaking.
The exhibition has previously traveled to cities in Japan and overseas, attracting more than 700,000 visitors in total.
