Niseko is a small rural town situated in the midst of a huge national park and is perhaps best known for it’s Winter Resorts and Other Sports. However there are a few interesting attractions to be seen in the Niseko area.
Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum
Born into a relatively wealthy family on March 4, 1878 Takeo Arishima was a Japanese author as were his two brothers. Three of his major works include, Aru Onna (A Certain Woman – pub. 1919), Oshiminaku Ai wa Ubau (Love Robs without Hesitation) and Kain no Matsuei (Descendant of Cain – 1917).
His own life was also somewhat of a dramatic story begginning with a failed suicide attempt while still in university. After this attempt he turned to Christianity and moved to the United States to attended Harvard University. However he quickly became dissilioned with Chistianity and instead turned to socialism. On returning to Japan he formed a literary group called “Shirakaba” (White Birch) and set up a farm collective. He then married but his first wife passed away just six years later due to disease.
After another six years he met a married woman Akiko Hanato. The two became involved in an affair which was uncovered by Hanato’s husband some time later. This lead to his second and very much more succesful suicide attempt by hanging along with his lover. The museum displays various documents and works by this interesting individual.
| Admission | Adults ¥ 500 Junior High School student ¥ 100 Children & Niseko residents free of charge. |
| Opening Hours | 9 am to 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday |
| Closed | Mondays (following day if Monday is a holiday) and New Year Holidays |
| Contact | (0136) 44-3245 |
| Getting There | 57 Abuta-gun Niseko-cho, Arishima. Japan, 〒048-1531 Hokkaidō, Abuta-gun, Niseko-chō, Arishima, ニセコ町有島57番地 |
