Former Tōson Shimazaki Residence (旧島崎藤村邸)

Located about a 10-minute walk from Oiso Station in Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture, this villa was once the home of Toson Shimazaki (1872–1943), a prominent writer active during the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods.

Shimazaki believed that staying in one place for too long could hinder a writer's creativity. However, after witnessing Oiso's Sagicho (左義長) Fire Festival — commonly known as Dondoyaki (どんど焼き) in other regions — he changed his mind and decided to rent this villa, eventually purchasing it about a year and a half later.

Unfortunately, he passed away only about a year after acquiring the property.

In the garden stands a cube-shaped monument engraved with the words "涼しい風だね"(Suzushii kaze dane), meaning "What a cool breeze." These are said to have been his final words.

Adjacent to the residence is another Japanese-style house. Originally, the site contained a modest management building for nearby rental villas, which Shimazaki reportedly found bothersome. He was planning to replace it with a private study or archive after purchasing which never happened due to his death. After World War II, his wife built the current house on the site. Today, it is used by the Oiso Guide Association and is not open to the public.

Normal operating hours:
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed from December 29 to January 3

Admission: Free