Introduction to the ITO Hirobumi Memorial Park English Guide

●The Birth of ITO Hirobumi  (1841-1909)

 ITO Hirobumi(childhood name HAYASHI Risuke) was born in the Tsukari area of Kumage County(Currently Tsukari, Hikari City)on September 2 in the 1841.

 ITO had here before he moved Hagi at age9. There have been many stories that still exist regarding the bright and competitive boy known as Risuke.

 Inside the ITO Hirobumi Memorial Park visitors can see the restored house where ITO Hirobumi was born, the well that provided the water for his first bath, and a second-generation persimmon tree said to have been climbed by ITO Hirobumi during his youth. At this park visitors are afforded glimpses of his childhood.

Former Residence of ITO Hirobumi 

(PrefectureDesignated Tangible Cultural Property)

 In 1910 the HAYASHI and ITO families constructed this building to conduct Buddhist ceremonies commemorating the 300th anniversary of the death of Ito's ancestor HAYASHI Awajinokami Michioki.

 ITO Hirobumi designed the fundamental plans himself and longed to see the building completed, but just before completion in October of 1909 he fell to an assasin's bullet and died abroad, unable to return home.

 Following large-scale repairs, the building was opened to the public in February of 2004 as the Former Residence of ITO Hirobumi. 【Free admission】

 ITO Hirobumi  was born on September 2 in the 1841 in this thatched house.He was the first son of HAYASHI Juzo and Kotoko.

 The house was moved in the 3rd year of 1991 to its present location, and is preserved alongside the well said to have been used for ITO`s first bath.

●Overview of the HIROBUMI ITO MUSEUM

The HIROBUMI ITO MUSEUM displays personal items that belonged to ITO Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan. The museum was opened as a place to introduce Ito's accomplishments and to study trends in Japan from the end of the shogunate period to the end of the Meiji period.

The museum's main building is a one-story reinforced concrete  structure with an area of 534.36 square meters.The building's facade was constructed with a Meiji-style brick motif.

Furthemore, being place between ITO's Birthplace and his First Residence, it serves as a kind of time tunnel between Risuke(ITO's childhood name)and Hirobumi.

【Information】

■Opening Hours 

 9:00AM～5：00PM（Last admission at 4:30PM）         

■Holidays

Mondays（If Monday is a holiday the museum will be closed the following day ）

■admission

260Yen 

 Admission is free for high school studennt and younger children】