Bunkyo City Mori Ogai Memorial Museum
A 7-minute walk from Hakusan Station on the Toei Mita Line/a 15-minute walk from Nippori Station on the Nippori-Toneri Liner

Enjoy literary teatime conversation in an artistic space.

With its unique world view, the museum building has received famous awards and is definitely worth visiting. In commemoration of the 5th anniversary of its opening, the museum is holding a special exhibition entitled “Observations of the Meiji Era Literary World: Ogai and Other Literary Figures Born in 1867” from October 7. We recommend savoring Mori Ogai’s favorite German-brand black tea and our famous Bunjin sweets while reading “The Dancing Girl” in the chic café inside the museum.

• ■Address: 1-23-4 Sendagi, Bunkyo City
• ■Closed: The museum will be closed October 2 – 6 for exhibit installations. Ordinarily, the museum is closed on the 4th Tuesday of each month (excluding September) and for Year End-New Year holidays, exhibit installations, and fumigation periods.
• ■Admission fees: Special exhibitions—Adults: 500 yen; Children of junior high school age or younger: free Groups of 20 people or more: 400 yen
• ■Inquiries: Tel: 03-3824-5511

Shinjuku City Fumiko Hayashi Memorial Hall
A 7-minute walk from Nakai Station on the Toei-Oedo Line

Slip back in time to the Showa era in our delightful gardens.

The home of Fumiko Hayashi—author of Diary of a Vagabond” and “Floating Clouds”—up until her death in 1951, this house has been preserved just as it was when Hayashi lived there. While enjoying the nostalgic traditional Japanese home, including the living room, study, and the art studio of Hayashi’s husband (painter Rokubin Tezuka), visitors can also instantly slip back in time to the good old days of the Showa era by taking a stroll through the exquisite gardens steeped in the colors of autumn.

• ■Address: 2-20-1 Nakai, Shinjuku City
• ■Closed: Mondays (whenever Monday is a public holiday, then Tuesday), Year End-New Year holidays, special maintenance periods.
• ■Admission fees: Adults: 150 yen; Elementary/junior high school students 50 yen. Admission for elementary/junior high school students is free on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, compensatory holidays, Tokyo Citizens’ Day (October 1), and spring/summer/winder school holidays.
• ■Inquiries: TEL: 03-5996-9207

Taito City Ichiyo Memorial Museum
A 15-minute walk from Minowabashi Station on the Tokyo Sakura Tram

Japan’s most well-known woman writer

The Ichiyo Memorial Museum is filled with precious objects related to renowned author Ichiyo Higuchi, such as an unfinished manuscript for her representative work Takekurabe (Child’s Play”) and a reproduction of her writing desk. The portrait of Ichiyo that was reproduced on the 5,000 yen note and a 5,000 yen note with the serial number “A0000002A” are especially popular displays. The museum is currently holding an exhibition of Ichiyo’s waka poems and the flowering plants depicted in them entitled “Ichiyo and Flowering Plants” (ends October 25).

© Ichiyo Memorial Museum

• ■Address: 3-18-4 Ryusen, Taito City
• ■Closed: Mondays (whenever Monday is a public holiday, then Tuesday), Year End-New Year holidays, October 26 (Thursday) – 31 (Tuesday)
• ■Admission fees: Adults: 300 yen; Elementary/junior high/high school students: 100 yen Admission fees for groups of 20 people or more: Adults: 200 yen; Elementary/junior high/high school students: 50 yen
• ■Inquiries: Tel: 03-3873-0004

Arakawa City Yoshimura Akira Commemorative Museum of Modern Literature
A 1-minute walk from Arakawa-nichome (Yui-no-Mori Arakawa) Station of the Tokyo Sakura Tram

Adjoins a library that can be enjoyed by all the family

This museum features displays to delight Yoshimura Akira fans, including a recreation of his study lined with his book collection and handwritten investigative notes (Copy) for “Battleship Musashi”. The adjoining library contains a collection of approximately 1,300 copies of Yoshimura’s works and related books, all of which are available for anyone to read. In addition, the Yui-no-Mori Arakawa facility has a “Children’s Plaza” and eating area where food and drinks purchased elsewhere can be consumed, making this a perfect destination for a family outing.

• ■Address: 2-50-1 Arakawa, Arakawa City
• ■Closed: Third Thursday of every month, Year End-New Year holidays, special maintenance periods
• ■Admission fees: free
• ■Inquiries: Tel: 03-3802-4976

Koto City Basho Memorial Museum
A 7-minute walk from Morishita Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line・Toei Ooedo Line.

Remembering the artistic consummator of Haikai (17-syllable verse) who lived through travel

The permanent exhibition on the Third Floor provides an easy-to-understand description of the life and works of Matsuo Basho, Japan’s most famous poet. An exhibition entitled “Basho’s Top 10 Apprentices: Shomon no Jittetsu” is currently being held on the Second Floor (and ends December 10). A little-known delight is the Basho-an Observatory Garden (free admission) located approximately 200 m from the museum. There, you can experience the charm of Basho’s era while watching the Sumida and Onagi Rivers gently intersect as a refreshing river breeze blows.

• ■Address: 1-6-3 Tokiwa, Koto City
• ■Closed: Every 2nd and 4th Monday (whenever Monday is a public holiday, then Tuesday).
  Accordingly, the museum will be open on October 9 (Monday/public holiday) and closed on October 10 (Tuesday).
  Also closed for Year End-New Year holidays and exhibit installation periods.
• ■Admission fees: Adults (including high school students): 200 yen; Elementary/junior high school students: 50 yen Admission fees for groups of 20 people or more: Adults: 150 yen; Elementary/junior high school students: 30 yen.
• ■Inquiries: Tel: 03-3631-1448

Ota City Kumagai Tsuneko Memorial Hall
A 10-minute walk from Nishi-Magome Station on the Toei-Asakusa Line

Teaching herself the ancient script of the Heian Period, she independently opened up new horizons.

This memorial hall was created by renovating the home (originally constructed in 1936) of Kumagai Tsuneko, who was a leading woman calligrapher renowned for her kana script calligraphy. In addition to storing and displaying approximately 170 of Kumagai’s works, the museum displays the study that Kumagai actually used as well as her brushes, inkstone, and other cherished items. The museum also provides desks and writing sets for visitors to write some calligraphy to commemorate their visit.

• ■Address: 4-5-15 Minami-Magome, Ota City
• ■Closed: Mondays (whenever Monday is a public holiday, then Tuesday), Year End-New Year holidays, exhibit installation periods.
• ■Admission fees: Adults (aged 16 or over): 100 yen; Children (aged 6–15): 50 yen; Infants (aged under 6) and Senior Citizens (aged 65 years or over): free (proof of age must be shown)
• ■Inquiries: Tel: 03-3773-0123