Siebold Memorial Museum, Biographical museum in Nagasaki, Japan.
The Siebold Memorial Museum displays more than 200 objects organized in six categories that document the life and scientific work of German physician Philipp Franz von Siebold. The collection includes his field notes, natural history drawings, and personal belongings that illustrate his research activities during his time in Japan.
Siebold arrived in Japan during the 1820s as a physician and conducted extensive research on local natural history and medical practices. The museum itself opened in 1989 and was built on the site adjacent to the former Narutaki-juku school from 1824, with its architecture modeled after his residence in Leiden.
The museum presents Siebold's research on Japanese plants and animals alongside his family history through his Japanese wife Kusumoto Taki and their daughter Ine. His scientific work shows how western and Japanese knowledge systems met during this period.
The museum is housed in a replica of Siebold's residence in Leiden, making the visit feel authentic and personal. Its location next to the historic school grounds allows you to explore the site within its original geographic and educational context.
The site preserves two original wells and a tree planted or used by Siebold himself, making the daily life of his school tangible. The Japanese government designated this area as a National Historic Site in 1922, well before the museum was established.
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