Discover Nabari: Literature, Cityscape and Culture

Nabari combines literary history with a historic cityscape and a range of cultural points of interest. On your trip, you can focus on Edogawa Rampo and his monument, the old houses along the Hase-Kaido, or the residence of the Nabari Tōdō family. Other highlights include an annual autumn grand festival and a historic shadow-puppet theatre. These themes appeal to different interests: literature, local history, festival culture and performance. They also differ in timing: the autumn grand festival takes place on the same weekend each year.

Edogawa Rampo and Literary Heritage

Edogawa Rampo, considered the founder of Japanese detective fiction, was born in Nabari in 1894. In 1955, Nabari residents erected a monument at his birthplace. This links the writer’s origins with a later tribute by the local community. If you want to explore Nabari from a literary perspective, this offers a specific point of interest: the town is both part of Rampo’s biography and a place of remembrance for him.

Historic Houses and Local History

In the center of Nabari, old houses line the historic Hase-Kaido, lending the streetscape a nostalgic character. The focus here is not on a single person, but on the impression of a historic street and its older buildings. This perspective complements the town’s literary history with a sense of place: the Hase-Kaido is a focal point of the cityscape, while the Rampo monument commemorates a specific life story.

The Nabari Tōdō family residence is also part of the town’s history. The historic site is designated as a prefectural monument and is one of the sights near Nabari Station. Its official designation offers a different perspective from the old houses along the Hase-Kaido: the residence is explicitly identified as a monument, while the houses shape the streetscape with their nostalgic feel. This distinguishes two forms of local history: a designated historic site and old houses along a historic street.

Autumn Festival and Shadow-Puppet Theatre

The autumn grand festival at Uruhushine Shrine is a highlight more closely tied to the time of year. It takes place every year on the last weekend of October. If you plan your stay for this date, the festival takes center stage. For travelers with fixed dates, the last weekend in October is a useful reference point. If the festival is a deciding factor for your trip, check the specific event date before you leave.

Hanabishian offers a different kind of cultural experience. This street museum is located in the Sumita liquor store in Furumachi, Nabari. For performances at its own historic shadow-puppet theatre, a 170-year-old tatami room and a garden are opened to visitors. The performance itself takes center stage, with the room and garden providing a historic setting. If you are interested in traditional performance arts, this venue adds another form of cultural experience to Nabari’s other highlights: here, the focus is on shadow-puppet theatre rather than a biography or streetscape.

Note on Yanaseyado

Yanaseyado has been closed for renovation since April 1, 2026, for up to one year. If the venue is relevant to your travel plans, take the closure into account and check for a reopening announcement after this period.

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For the main travel guide: Mie Prefecture.