HELLO FROM JAPAN! on View Through 5/17 at Children's Museum of Manhattan

The Children's Museum of Manhattan welcomes Hello from Japan!, a new interactive exhibit that enables families to experience and learn about Tokyo's vibrant culture and present-day life in Japan at CMOM (212 West 83rd Street, The Tisch Building, New York, NY). The multimedia experience runs through May 17, 2015.

Hello from Japan! will transport families to two distinct areas of Tokyo that exist side by side: one serene and exquisite, the other, bustling with activity yet over the top cute. Together, the exhibit highlights how ancient traditions of Japan co-exist with the pervasive contemporary culture.

Kawaii Central is an authentic streetscape inspired by Tokyo's bustling Harajuku district, bursting with color, trendy shops and cuter-than-cute kawaii-inspired styles. Kids will sing karaoke, smile for the photo booth camera, serve up a seasonal Japanese meal, and design adorable mascots for their families. At the end of the streetscape is a bridge that leads from the contemporary urban setting into a beautiful and tranquil Shinto shrine park, where children can build a bridge, crawl through a forest, encounter kami spirits, and make a wish at a wishing tree.