【Upper House (Kami no Ie)】Yasushi Inoue - Shirobanba

The town of Yugashima in Izu City is where the renowned writer Yasushi Inoue spent his childhood. His semi-autobiographical novel, "Shirobanba", is set in this very place. The Upper House (Kami no Ie), which appears in the novel, was the home of Inoue's mother's family and is believed to have been built around the 5th or 6th year of the Meiji era (1872–1873). Due to its deteriorating condition, local volunteers, the tourism association, and others have taken the lead in preserving and restoring the house, funding the renovations through crowdfunding and other means.

Visitors can also enter the Upper House (Kami no Ie). The interior has been renovated and restored, and it is now open to the public on the first and third Saturdays and Sundays of each month. Members of the Kami no Ie Asunaro Association play a central role in offering tour guides.

The interior of the Upper House (Kami no Ie) feels like a small museum, where visitors can view items related to Yasushi Inoue. However, the staircase to the second floor is steep, so please be cautious when walking up the stairs. Around the Upper House (Kami no Ie), there are many locations featured in the novel, such as an Asunaro tree and the remains of an earthen storehouse. Take a stroll through the area and immerse yourself in the world of "Shirobanba".