Ibaraki Municipal Kawabata Literature Hall

The Ibaraki Municipal Kawabata Literature Hall is a literature museum dedicated to Yasunari Kawabata, Japan's first Nobel Prize winner in literature. The collection holds about 400 items including manuscripts, letters, and photographs that document his life and work.

The museum was founded in May 1985 to commemorate Kawabata's years in Ibaraki, where he lived from age three through junior high school. This early period shaped the author who would later become Japan's most celebrated literary figure.

The museum displays a reconstruction of Kawabata's childhood home and his study from Hase, allowing visitors to see the spaces that influenced his writing life. These recreated rooms help people understand the environments where he spent his formative years.

Admission to the museum is free and parking is available on-site, making it easy to access by car. The location is about a 20-minute walk from JR Ibaraki Station if you prefer public transportation.

The museum holds special exhibitions each June to mark Kawabata's birthday, featuring materials not usually on display. These annual events offer fresh perspectives on different aspects of the author's life and creative process.

Location: Ibaraki

Official opening: May 1985

Website: https://city.ibaraki.osaka.jp/kikou/shimin/bunka/menu/kawabata/bungakuknnnituite/english_guide.html

GPS coordinates: 34.82333,135.57085

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:04