Far East at Wilanów 2026 - Wilanów Palace

Illustrations to eight Japanese poems about love, ink works by Małgorzata Suchecka and two uchikake wedding kimonos on loan from the Asia and Pacific Museum: this is the exhibition of this year’s “Daleki Wschód w Wilanowie” (Far East at Wilanów) programme, devoted to Polish and Japanese customs of love and marriage. The exhibition opened in the palace on 1 October 2026; the museum says only that it can be seen in October, and gives no closing day.

The Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów on the exhibition (our translation of the museum’s Polish text):

When Jan Sobieski and Marie Casimire de la Grange d’Arquien stood happily at the altar, at the other end of the world the tragedy of the beautiful Onatsu and Seijuro of Himeji was unfolding. The story of the Japanese Romeo and Juliet inspired poets and painters and moved the hearts of theatregoers. Fulfilled, forbidden, unrequited - love is a force to be reckoned with.

The many faces of love are shown in poems gathered as early as the 13th century in the anthology Ogura hyakunin-isshu (The Ogura Collection - one poem each by a hundred poets). These poems still enjoy enormous popularity; they have become part of both high and popular culture, and even part of New Year celebrations. We invite you to see illustrations by sensei Ryuka Matsumura to eight poems from this collection. They are accompanied by the poems in Anna Zalewska’s translation.

We will also present works by a Polish artist, Małgorzata Suchecka, made in the sumi-e technique. They grew out of a dialogue between Japanese tradition, the historical Wilanów collection and the artist’s own feelings. They explore a language of references, allusions and symbols characteristic of the way the Japanese communicate, and leave much room for things unsaid.

In the Chinese Rooms, next to Japanese bijin beauties from the Wilanów collection, will stand two uchikake wedding kimonos from the collection of Mr and Mrs Ogawa, lent to us by the Asia and Pacific Museum.

What to expect

The exhibition has three parts and does not occupy a single room: the illustrations hang by the palace cloakroom, and the kimonos stand in the Chinese Rooms, on the first floor of the south wing. It is an addition to a visit to the palace rather than a separate exhibition.

• Illustrations by sensei Ryuka Matsumura - works in the suibokuga technique to eight poems from the 13th-century anthology Ogura hyakunin-isshu, shown together with the poems in Anna Zalewska’s Polish translation. They hang by the palace cloakroom.
• Works by Małgorzata Suchecka - paintings in the sumi-e technique which, according to the museum, grew out of a dialogue between Japanese tradition, the Wilanów collection and the artist’s own feelings. The museum does not say where they hang or how many there are.
• Two uchikake wedding kimonos from the collection of Mr and Mrs Ogawa, lent by the Asia and Pacific Museum. They stand in the Chinese Rooms next to Japanese bijin beauties from the Wilanów collection.
• The Chinese Rooms themselves - decoration from the 1880s, Chinese-style furniture and Wilanów’s collection of Far Eastern art. The same permanent exhibition holds a Japanese nanban table from 1610.

If you only have time for one part, go to the Chinese Rooms. That is where the programme’s theme - love and marriage, the Polish way and the Japanese way - comes through most clearly: the wedding kimonos stand next to Japanese bijin beauties from the Wilanów collection, and in that collection the museum describes two porcelain figurines of such beauties in decorated kimonos, made in Japan in 1700-1730.

Context

Ogura hyakunin-isshu is a collection of a hundred Japanese poems, one by each of a hundred poets, compiled in the 13th century by the poet Fujiwara no Teika. It gave rise to the card game uta-garuta, still popular in Japan, especially in the first days of the New Year. The whole collection was translated into Polish by Anna Zalewska; her translation was published in 2008.

Suibokuga, also called sumi-e, is Japanese painting in black ink, which came from China and is closely tied to calligraphy; the paintings often carry an inscribed poem. Uchikake is a very formal outer kimono, worn today only by a bride or by someone performing on stage; bridal uchikake are usually red or white. The “bijin beauties” of the Wilanów collection are, in the museum’s own description, two twin figurines of white porcelain, made in Japan between 1700 and 1730, showing standing women in decorated kimonos; the museum does not say outright whether these are the ones standing next to the kimonos.

October with Japan has a long history at Wilanów. In 2002 the museum launched a recurring programme, “Japoński Październik w Pałacu w Wilanowie” (Japanese October at Wilanów Palace), with kimono-dressing demonstrations, ikebana, haiku workshops, lectures and concerts.

Tickets and time

• Where: in the palace. Matsumura’s illustrations hang by the palace cloakroom, the kimonos stand in the Chinese Rooms on the first floor of the south wing, and the museum does not say where Suchecka’s works are. Directions are on the museum profile.
• Ticket: the museum lists no separate ticket for this exhibition and does not say outright which ticket admits you to it. On the Chinese Rooms page it sells the same ticket as for the palace’s other permanent exhibitions, and in its programme it gave the admission to the kimono show in the palace on 4 October as “bilet do pałacu” (palace ticket). So expect to need a palace ticket (October price list: standard ticket 70 PLN (about 16 EUR), reduced 35 PLN (about 8 EUR)); this ticket also covers the park.
• Mind the list of interiors: on its tickets page the museum lists the interiors open on the palace ticket, and neither the Chinese Rooms nor this exhibition is among them. If you are coming for the kimonos, ask at the ticket office before you buy.
• Buying: tickets are sold only by the museum, at the ticket office and through its own online system; third-party resellers do not have them.
• Thursday: free admission on Thursdays to the palace, the historic gardens and the park, but the number of passes to the palace is limited. They are collected in person at the ticket office on the day of the visit, with no booking. The museum does not say whether they cover this exhibition.
• Accessibility: the Chinese Rooms are on the first floor, and the museum states that the palace’s first floor is not accessible to wheelchair users; for them the ground floor of the palace and the park are accessible. A wheelchair user therefore cannot see the kimonos of this exhibition. Prams are left in the cloakroom, where the museum lends baby carriers.
• How long: allow about an hour for the exhibition itself. The museum gives half an hour for the Chinese and Hunting Rooms, and by the cloakroom hang the illustrations to eight poems; this is an estimate, not the museum’s figure. It is best combined with a tour of the palace, because the kimonos stand within its permanent exhibition.
• Who it’s for: people interested in classical Japanese poetry, ink painting and the kimono, and those who are going to the palace anyway. Families with children will find a walk-game and children’s workshops in the programme.
• Who can skip it: anyone looking for a large exhibition about Japan. It is illustrations to eight poems, the work of one artist and two kimonos: too little as the only reason to travel to Wilanów, but worthwhile as an addition to the palace.

Events

The programme runs throughout October. Tickets for the events are sold by the museum on the programme page.

• 17 October 2026, 11:00-14:00 - “Eleganckie indygo” (Elegant Indigo), a shibori dyeing workshop and a lecture on Japanese textile-dyeing techniques, for teenagers and adults; Wozownia (the Carriage House); 90 PLN.
• 17 October 2026, 15:00-18:00 - “Aioi no Matsu”, a sumi-e workshop for adults with Małgorzata Suchecka, also for those who have never painted; Domek Lanciego (Lanci’s House); 120 PLN.
• 18 October 2026, 12:00-15:00 - “Neko-san”, a sumi-e workshop for children with Małgorzata Suchecka; Domek Lanciego; 30 PLN, accompanying carer 30 PLN.
• 22 October 2026, 18:00-20:00 - “Odcienie miłości” (Shades of Love), a suibokuga workshop for adults with sensei Ryuka Matsumura; Domek Lanciego; 120 PLN.
• 23 October 2026, 17:00-20:00 - “Sashiko i boro” (Sashiko and Boro), an embroidery workshop for teenagers and adults, led by Nitkomaniaczka; participants sew a small bag decorated with sashiko embroidery; Domek Lanciego; 160 PLN.
• 24 October 2026, 13:00-14:30 - “Washi ningyo”, a paper-doll workshop for children and teenagers with Anna Sekikawa; Domek Lanciego; 30 PLN, accompanying carer 30 PLN.
• 25 October 2026, 10:30-12:00 - “Kocha, lubi…” (Loves me, loves me not…), a walk-game for families with children, teenagers and adults; meeting point at the palace cloakroom; tickets 15 PLN standard, 10 PLN reduced.
• 25 October 2026, 14:00-15:00 - “Jak przetłumaczyć miłość?” (How Do You Translate Love?), a meeting with Dr Anna Zalewska, translator of the Ogura hyakunin-isshu, and the final of the competition “5+7+5 - wilanowskie haiku” (5+7+5 - Wilanów Haiku); the palace, south wing (first floor). The museum gives no price; competition entrants are admitted free with passes. Haiku can be sent until 18 October to edukacja@muzeum-wilanow.pl.

See also

• The Sobieskis and the Stuarts - The Splendour and Spectre of the Crown - in the north wing of the same palace, until 13 December 2026. A different story of marriage: that of Maria Clementina Sobieska, granddaughter of Jan III, and James Stuart in 1719.
• The Krzysztof Findziński Collection. A Cabinet of Memories. Asia - at the Asia and Pacific Museum, which lent the kimonos, until 31 October 2026: objects from Asia from a collector’s gift of 289 items.
• Boundaries of Colour. Ikat Textiles of Asia - for those who find the textiles the most absorbing part of the Wilanów show: from 27 November 2026 at the Asia and Pacific Museum, including textiles from Japan.
• Wojowniczki. Japońskie herstorie (Warrior Women: Japanese Herstories) - at the Manggha Museum in Kraków until 11 November 2026; its first part shows the mothers, wives and companions of men.

Museum profile: Wilanów Palace.