Shiga Naoya's Old Residence — Attraction in Nara

At the end of the Shimononegi-michi Pathway from Kasugataisha temple I found myself in front of this residence and it drew my attention. For the very small fee of 500 yen, I had the opportunity to explore a traditional Japanese home all to myself. This was probably just a coincidence but it feels like this is not a place where tourists flock and the experience was so immersive (for me it was the highlight of my day-trip to Nara, despite the cute deer). The fact that the residence belonged to a prominent Japanese poet and his family only intensified my attraction to this place. I loved the explanations in the leaflets of how, for example, he preferred the northern room to write because of the dimmer light. The feeling of the soft tatami on my bare feet, the crickets buzzing in the garden, the warm august breeze from the open windows and the architecture of the house made me wish I could have experienced -if for a little while- life in such a place. One of the experiences I will most cherish from my trip to Japan, cannot recommend this hidden...

The house designed and lived in by Japanese writer Shiga Naoya. It is worths spending half to one hour just walking through the different rooms and the manicured garden. It would give you a real feel of Japanese-style living in the 1930s. I walked in this house accidentally on my way back from the crowded Nara Park, and I was glad I did. I spent such a wonderful, quiet time here. Dr. Soji Ohara, a retired professor and the manager of the house, patiently walked me through each space explaining its unique story (in English, which I really appreciate). I don't think he would be available all the time for every visitor. I think I was lucky that the afternoon I visited, I was the only visitor. Try it, if you're lucky, you may get the experience of being the owner of this house for half an hour, looking out into the garden from your...

I had been to many museums that displayed almost nothing but charged 1500 yen. So when the admission here was asking for $500 yen, I kept thinking it might as well be a rip off and the fee was just to keep the house from decay. Giving the high costs of everything these days, the admission fee might not even be enough to fix a pillar, I thought to myself. While the displays were surely not the best for a famous Japanese author, it was certainly "enough" to keep me wander around. I studied literature all my life and I love seeing old residence of authors. Although I wish there were some MORE items on display in each room, the little house was nostalgic and kept nicely. Thank you for making...