Hanawa Hokiichi Memorial Museum

The Hanawa Hokiichi Memorial Museum is a biographical museum in Honjo dedicated to the life and work of the blind scholar. The collections display personal belongings and historical documents that record his research methods and influence on Japanese learning.

The scholar's birthplace was historically tied to Kijigaoka Castle before being repurposed as a memorial site. The building gained its current status as a dedicated museum in the mid-20th century.

The birthplace of blind scholar Hanawa Hokiichi is preserved here, and his life story becomes tangible through the objects on display. Visitors can see how he lived and worked daily in these spaces despite losing his sight.

The museum sits in a quiet area of Honjo and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should plan for a visit lasting about an hour or two and arrange in advance if special assistance is needed.

The scholar memorized thousands of pages of historical texts without being able to read them himself, an extraordinary feat for his era. This remarkable method of knowledge storage is clearly demonstrated through the exhibits on display.

Location: Honjo

Official opening: 1967

Address: 埼玉県本庄市児玉町八幡山446

Website: https://city.honjo.lg.jp/soshiki/kyoikuiinkai/bunkazai/tantoujouhou/exhibition/hanawahokiichi

GPS coordinates: 36.19093,139.12838

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:47