The theme: getting to know and appreciate Natsume Soseki as a person.
The Natsume Perseum is a new style of pop-literature museum that presents travel as an entry point to literature from the perspective of Soseki's personality. Our goal is to create an enjoyable space for both literature enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
The museum is divided into five sequential areas: “Discover His Personality,” “Experience the Worlds of His Works,” “A Conversation with Soseki,” “Read His Works,” and “Expand and Deepen Your Interest.” Through this journey, visitors will discover who Natsume Soseki was as a man as well as his connection with Kumamoto.
Permanent Exhibition
Permanent Exhibition
Discover His Personality:
Soseki's Defining Moments
Explore Natsume Soseki's character and his connection to Kumamoto through eight perspectives.
Discover his prized possessions and the origin of his pen name, trace his life as a teacher and writer, and examine his relationships with his friends and family. This section also features interactive exhibits where visitors can test their skills with Soseki's own English questions and even touch his moustache. Scattered throughout are breakdowns of Kumamoto-associated works, including haiku and Kusamakura, as well as a map of Soseki's associated spots and seven former residences that illuminate the deep ties Soseki had with the city.
Experience the Worlds of His Works:
Soseki Theater: ‘A Cat's Daydream’
Familiarize yourself with the worlds within Soseki's masterpieces and Kumamoto-related works through a 5-minute video here at Soseki Theater. After learning about Soseki the man, immerse yourself in the worlds of his works on a 2.1m by 6.3m screen.
A Conversation with Soseki:
"Listen to Me, Natsume-Sensei!"
Natsume Soseki was so popular and so busy that he would only receive visitors on Thursdays from 3PM to make time for himself and avoid being crowded by guests. As a result, former students and young literary admirers would gather on Thursdays in an event that became a cultural salon for diverse discussions. These events later came to be known as "Thursday Gatherings." Participants reportedly brought everything from serious debates to trivial chatter to Soseki for his input.
Now at the Perseum, you can have a conversation with Soseki yourself. He'll answer any question earnestly, from what to have for dinner to life's greatest struggles. Just imagine you are visiting the professor's home and start the conversation with whatever comes to mind.
Read His Works:
The World of the Reinterpreted Kusamakura
Among Soseki's works, Kusamakura is most strongly associated with Kumamoto.
It is also one of Soseki's most difficult to interpret. For this reason, we invited contemporary writers to reinterpret Kusamakura into a new version for the Natsume Perseum. This team of writers from various genres split up the original thirteen chapters and updated them individually to create this new version of Kusamakura.
Poet Tahi Saihate did the first two chapters. We hope you will enjoy the world of 'Kusamakura' as reinterpreted by contemporary authors.
A Comment from Tahi Saihate
To me, Natsume Soseki's prose is like a quiet lake. Although there is an elegant stillness, I can hear a faint tremble, something reminiscent of a human heartbeat. There is a faint, subtle ripple on the lake surface, too small and pale to be perceived by the human eye. It is those moments when I sense that tiny flicker in which I remember that this was indeed written by human hands. I cherish that ripple, and I hope that I can carefully preserve it in my own words like a breath. I felt a lot of pressure, but it felt as if I were swimming through crisp, open air. I hope you will read it.
Special Exhibition
Special Exhibition
“My Soseki, by 100 People.”
Exhibition Period
Feb. 11, 2026 - Late July 2026
Natsume Soseki. His charm can be found in his lifestyle, personality, way of life, character, attitude, writings, and words. This special exhibit features accounts from fans of the author, from renowned personalities to local readers, about what Natsume Soseki means to them.
Exhibition 1 The Soseki Dictionary: Crafted from 100 Notes
“How would you describe Soseki in a sentence?” Here we have answers from people of various ages and backgrounds. These 100 single-sentence answers create a visual representation of Natsume Soseki’s personality from a variety of perspectives. At the end, there is a station where visitors can write their own.
Exhibition 2 “Me and Natsume Kinnosuke” Comic by Manga Artist Yura Kohi
This is not Natsume Soseki, but the man behind the nom-de-plume: Natsume Kinnosuke. Artist Yura Kohi, who has created manga about Soseki, introduces Kinnosuke's charm and her own experiences with his work through an original series of four-panel comics.
Shopping
Shopping
Museum Shop
Soseki had a deep appreciation for art, as he would send handmade postcards and work on his own book covers. We sell original merchandise based on the first edition covers of Soseki's works, including I Am a Cat. We welcome guests, visitors looking for souvenirs, and tourists simply exploring Kumamoto alike.
About the Merchandise
Soseki was particular about his book covers, only entrusting them to the most avant-garde artists of his time or even illustrating them himself.
We sorted through our vast archive and carefully selected these examples of modern aesthetics from that time a century ago.
Centered around I Am a Cat, the designs are diverse and fun, ranging from charming to eccentric.
Soseki's style goes so much further than his novels can convey, so we've expanded the exhibit to include an array of items for visitors to view.
Come experience the timeless charm for yourself.
Cotswolds Tea Room
The adjoining Cotswolds Tea Room offers Soseki's favorite jam and sweet red bean paste treats as part of their Soseki Tea Time menu, along with tea inspired by the author.
Overview
Natsume Perseum
Hotel Tau Kumamoto 1F, Shimotori 1-7-18, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto-ken (GoogleMaps)
Hours: 9AM–6PM
Closed: Announced in advance on Instagram
Entry Fee: ¥1,000 per adult, ¥500 per middle/high school student, free for elementary school kids and younger*
Phone Number: 096-322-2211
(All prices include tax. Free for hotel guests.)
¥, including tax
What is a Perseum?
"Perseum" is a combination of the words "Personality" and "Museum."
A Perseum invites visitors to discover the appeal of great figures by showing the visitor what kind of person they really were. For this reason, even those who know nothing about these figures besides their names can enjoy the Perseum. Developing an interest begins by getting to know who they were. We hope to provide that spark. For those who are already fans, the Perseum is a chance to rediscover beloved figures from a fresh perspective. That's the spirit behind the Perseum.
