Anchokuro Museum, Yokohama

Okichi was born in Shimoda in 1841, and at age 17 was a geisha who was sent to work at the residence of Townsend Harris, the first US Consul. She had to break off her engagement to a ship carpenter, Tsurumatsu, to do this. After Harris departed, she went to live in Kyoto and Mishima. This is the location of the restaurant that Okichi started in 1882 after her return to Shimoda. The first floor is a sushi shop, whose owner will gladly relate local anecdotes about Okichi. The second floor is a museum housing some personal memorabilia associated with Okichi. The building has the Izu signature architectural embellishment of black slate covered with a white grid, called "nameko kabe".

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