Kitahara Hakushu Birthplace and Memorial Museum

Kitahara Hakushu is one of the most celebrated poets of modern Japan. His birthplace is located in Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, an area known for its beautiful waterways. Active from the Meiji through Showa periods in the early 1900s, he is also widely known as the lyricist of beloved children’s songs such as Amefuri and Kono Michi, tunes many Japanese people have hummed at least once in their childhood.

The Kitahara Hakushu Birthplace & Memorial Museum is a combined facility that brings together his reconstructed family home and a memorial museum dedicated to his achievements. The original house belonged to a long-established family of seafood merchants who also operated a sake brewery, but it was largely destroyed by fire in 1901. It was later reconstructed in 1969. Today, the site displays Hakushu’s books, personal belongings, and everyday items that offer a glimpse into life at the time.

In the memorial museum, visitors can trace Hakushu’s life and creative journey through handwritten manuscripts, cherished possessions, and materials related to the culture and daily life of Yanagawa. These exhibits provide insight into the background that shaped the poetic world for which he is known.

The museum also sells Ushio, a sake said to have been Hakushu’s favorite, along with original items such as a reprinted edition of Hakushu Kouta-shu, a collection of short songs first published in 1919 that includes many of his representative works-perfect souvenirs to commemorate your visit.