Numerous wooden benches are set up around the building in Ueno Park, about a 10-minute walk from Ueno City Station. The building was constructed to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Matsuo Basho's birth.
It seems that this building is modeled after Matsuo Basho's traveling figure.
With his hat on his head and a straw raincoat covering his body, it certainly looks like Basho is on a journey. It is a very unique-shaped building.