Museum · Higashiosaka

Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum 司馬遼太郎記念館

A Tadao Ando-designed museum next to the house of Japan's best-loved historical novelist, centred on an 11-metre-high wall of 20,000 books lit through stained glass.

Hours10:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30)

ClosedMondays (or next day if holiday), 28 Dec-4 Jan, some other days

PriceAdult: ¥800
High school and junior high: ¥400

Getting thereKawachi-Kosaka Station (Kintetsu Nara Line), 8 min; Yaenosato Station, 8 min

Time needed1 hour

Best timeWeekdays

Address3-11-18 Shimokosaka, Higashiosaka, Osaka

Websiteshibazaidan.or.jp

About

Shiba Ryotaro (1923-1996), author of Ryoma ga Yuku and Saka no Ue no Kumo, lived in this quiet residential neighbourhood of Higashiosaka. His home and garden, kept as they were with his study visible through the window, adjoin a crescent-shaped concrete museum by Tadao Ando. Inside, the dramatic central space is a three-storey bookcase holding around 20,000 of the writers books, with a stained-glass window and the dim, contemplative light Ando is known for. The garden is planted with wildflowers Shiba loved, especially rape blossoms (nanohana), and on the anniversary of his death in February the area is decorated with them. It is an unusual stop for architecture fans, about 20 minutes from Namba.

Highlights

Tadao Andos 11 m library wall of 20,000 books
Shiba's preserved study seen from the garden
Wild garden of nanohana and native plants
Quiet residential setting

Tips

Interior photography is not allowed; take your Ando shots from outside.
Closed on Mondays.
Combine with Ishikiri Shrine on the Kintetsu Nara Line.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

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Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum 司馬遼太郎記念館

About

Highlights

Tips

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