Natsume Soseki came to Fifth High School (now Kumamoto University) as an English teacher in 1896. He moved 6 times during his 4 years and 3 month stay in Kumamoto. This is the 5th house he lived in within Kumamoto City, and he stayed here for 1 year and 8 months, the longest amount of time of any of his residences.
He lived there with his wife Kyoko and it became a memorable home for the Natsume family as their eldest daughter Fudeko was born there. Kyoko later said, "It was the best house I lived in in Kumamoto." Remaining today are the well they used to give Fudeko her first bath as well as a small hut where Terada Torihiko, Soseki's student who later became an excellent essayist and physicist, asked to stay.
On display inside the museum are Soseki’s valuable manuscripts, replica manuscripts, photographs from Fifth High School, as well as Karakuri puppets of Soseki and his cat to entertain visitors. Please visit the website "Kumamoto Culture" for events and the latest information.