Nakahara Chuya Memorial Museum

The Nakahara Chūya Memorial Museum is a literary museum dedicated to the world of poet Chūya Nakahara, located in Yuda Onsen, Yamaguchi City, and opened in 1994. Built on the site of his birthplace and former family home, the museum exhibits a variety of materials centered on his personal belongings, manuscripts, works, and items he used in life. The museum’s architecture was chosen through a nationwide open design competition, selecting from 479 nominated works. Its exposed concrete exterior is distinctive, and the building—selected as one of the “Top 100 Public Buildings”—features an impressive open atrium space where visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of Nakahara’s world. In Yuda Onsen itself, there are also various inns that Nakahara loved and frequented, so it’s a nice area to explore together with the museum. Access to the Nakahara Chūya Memorial Museum: by public transportation, take the JR Yamaguchi Line from JR Shinkansen “Shin-Yamaguchi Station” for about 15 minutes to “Yuda Onsen Station,” then walk about 10 minutes. By car, it’s about 15 minutes from Chugoku Expressway “Ogori IC” or Sanyo Expressway “Yamaguchi IC.”