[Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture] Dazai Osamu's birthplace "Shayoukan" is a 680 tsubo mansion! Let's enjoy Dazai's memorable spots

Goshogawara City in Aomori Prefecture is known as the town where novelist Osamu Dazai was born and raised. Osamu Dazai was born into one of the most prominent families in his hometown. the Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum, Shayoukan, where of Osamu Dazai, who gave the world many masterpieces that are still read today, such as No Longer Human and The Falling Sun. Let me introduce you.

Access to “Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum “Shayokan””

From Goshogawara Station on the JR Gono Line, transfer to the Tsugaru Railway Line and the 6th station is Kanagi Station. This Kanagi-cho is where Osamu Dazai spent his time.

The main street in front of the station is named ``Meros Street'' after Osamu Dazai's masterpiece ``Run, Melos''. After about 5 minutes of walking along Meros Street, you will arrive at Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum Shayokan.

Kanagi Station offers a bicycle rental service called Dazai-go. Recommended for those who want to visit the town where Dazai lived.

A large mansion is Dazai's birthplace.

``Osamu Dazai Memorial Hall ``Shayokan'' is Dazai's birthplace ``Old Tsushima Residence.'' Dazai's real name is Shuji Tsushima

It was constructed in 1907 (Meiji 40) at a construction cost of approximately 40,000 yen at the time. It's a little hard to understand the amount at the time, but according to the Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking page, the value of 1 yen in 1902 was about 1,490 times that of Reiwa 1.

Link: Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking: How much is "1 yen" in the past worth today? Meiji, Taisho, Showa, and present, changes in monetary value (value of money)

In other words, if you multiply 40,000 yen in the Meiji era by 1,490 times, the current price becomes 59.6 million yen.

There are 11 rooms on the first floor with an area of ​​278 tsubo, and the second floor has 8 rooms with an area of ​​116 tsubo. There is also a garden, and the site area is approximately 680 tsubo. It has the appearance of a large mansion. It was designated as a national important cultural property in 2004.

Dazai says of this large house in ``Before I Say Goodbye,'' ``My father built an extremely large house. It had no charm, it was just big.''

After the war, the Tsushima family sold it, and from 1955 it became a tourist attraction in the former Kanagi-cho as the inn ``Shayo-kan.'' In 1996, it was purchased by the former Kanagi-cho, and the 46-year history of the ryokan ``Shayo-kan'' came to an end. I took it down. It was then renovated as the Osamu Dazai Memorial Hall and continues to this day.

Let's go inside "Shayokan"

When you enter ``Shayokan'', a dirt floor spreads out in your field of vision. At the back, there is a middle storehouse and a rice storehouse. There is a space called the Bunkokura Exhibition Room, where you can see the haori and hakama that Dazai wore, first editions of books, and manuscripts. There are 600 exhibits

Six of the eight rooms on the second floor are Japanese-style rooms. Of the remaining two rooms, one is a Western-style room and the other is a waiting room. The Western-style room has beautiful curtains and nice furniture, which is different from the Japanese atmosphere of the building as a whole.

Get Dazai original goods

Staff members go around and give explanations. I highly recommend listening to this as it will help you understand it better. Original goods such as T-shirts with Dazai's family crest, Tsurumaru, are also on sale. It can be said that it is an irresistible place for Dazai fans.

Summary of Osamu Dazai's birthplace "Shayoukan"

At ``Shayokan,'' you can truly feel the scent of Osamu Dazai's life. In addition to Shayokan, the surrounding areas include Osamu Dazai's evacuated house, Old Tsushima Family New Zashiki, Dazai Osamu Memories Plaza, Meiji High School Ruins, where Dazai used to go, and Serino, where Dazai used to play. There are many places connected to Dazai, such as ``Parks''.

This is a particularly recommended spot for those who are impressed by Osamu Dazai's novels or those who want to read them in the future.

Shayokan＜Information＞

• Name: Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum “Shayoukan”
• Address: 412-1 Asahiyama, Kanagi-cho, Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0173-53-2020
• Official URL: Osamu Dazai Memorial Hall “Shayokan”

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