Guide
Osao-kan, the Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum, is located in Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture, and serves as the birthplace of the renowned literary giant Osamu Dazai. The estate was built in 1907 by Dazai's father, Genemon Tsushima. The architecture is truly magnificent, utilizing an abundance of Aomori Hiba (Japanese cypress) wood—one of Japan's three most beautiful woods—extending even to the rice storehouses. This grand residence exemplifies the lifestyle of a wealthy merchant in the Tohoku region. Today, it is designated as a National Important Cultural Property, recognized for its immense historical value as a representative example of modern Japanese-style residential architecture.
The main building was constructed by Genemon Tsushima, a powerful landowner during the Meiji era, at a staggering cost of approximately 40,000 yen at the time. The estate is vast, featuring 11 rooms on the first floor (covering 278 tsubo/approx. 919 m²) and 8 rooms on the second floor (116 tsuo/approx. 383 m²), with the total area including outbuildings and gardens reaching approximately 680 tsubo (approx. 2,247 m²). Osamu Dazai himself wrote about the overwhelming scale of this house in his work, "Annals of a Year of Pain." After the war, the building served as a traditional inn called "Osao-kan" before transitioning into its current role as a memorial museum to preserve the literary legacy of Dazai.
The highlight of the museum is the exhibition room located within the traditional library storage (Bunko-kura). As you pass through the wooden corridors into the storehouse, you will find approximately 300 precious artifacts, including the capes and traditional clothing (haori and hakama) worn by Osamu Dazai, his writing tools, and rare first editions or letters. The original manuscript of "Hashiranu Mei-ba" is particularly noteworthy. The architecture itself is a masterpiece; visitors can experience the weight of history through the expansive Japanese-style rooms, the Western-style rooms on the second floor, and the beautifully manicured gardens.
The facility is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the final entry at 4:30 PM. The museum is enjoyable in any season, but visiting during daylight hours is highly recommended. When the sun shines through the windows, the texture of the exquisite Hiba wood and the atmospheric charm of the Japanese-style rooms are truly heightened. It is a perfect place for quiet contemplation of literary history.
Visitors can connect deeply with the spiritual world of Osamu Dazai. By viewing his original manuscripts, his desk, and even his personal capes, you can imagine the environment in which one of Japan's greatest writers crafted his words. The building itself acts as a living exhibit, offering a chance to study the evolution of modern Japanese architectural styles. It is a compelling destination for both literature enthusiasts and those interested in traditional Japanese domestic architecture.
The Goshogawara area offers further cultural depth, with facilities where you can experience the sounds of Tsugaru Shamisen music. The museum is easily accessible on foot from Kanagi Station on the Tsugaru Railway, allowing you to enjoy the historical atmosphere of the surrounding region.
As this is a historic wooden structure, visitors are required to remove their shoes before entering. Please dress appropriately for the season. To protect the precious exhibits and the building, please check the photography rules before taking photos. Since the museum houses highly sensitive historical documents, a quiet and respectful atmosphere is expected.