Yoshiya Nobuko Memorial Museum

The Yoshiya Nobuko Memorial Museum preserves the legacy of a trail-blazing writer from the early 20th century.

Just a 10-minute walk away from the Kamakura Literary Museum lies the former house of one of Japan’s most celebrated and prolific novelists. Nobuko Yoshiya was a pioneer of Japanese lesbian literature and wrote prolifically about intense emotional relationships between young girls. She built this house in Kamakura for her and her lifelong partner, Monma Chiyo, and there they entertained numerous other female artists and writers.

After Yoshiya died in 1973, her house was converted into a museum containing memorabilia from her life. Most rooms were preserved just as she left them, with Yoshiya’s own original furniture and artwork. The museum also contains handwritten manuscripts of her work and a gallery of photos from her life. And the house itself is beautiful, with maple and elm trees cresting a tranquil garden that serves as an oasis from the bustle of the city. 

If you want to make another stop in Kamakura, Yoshiya’s grave can be found at the town’s temple of Kōtoku-in. It’s also near the Daibutsu of Kamakura, an enormous bronze representation of the Amida Buddha.