Sugihara House
Kauno apskritis
Sugihara House is a memorial museum located in Kaunas, Lithuania, dedicated to Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who served as vice-consul in Kaunas during 1939-1940. Despite official restrictions from the Japanese government, Sugihara courageously issued transit visas to approximately 2,000 to 10,000 Jewish refugees, enabling them to escape Nazi persecution during World War II. The museum is housed in the former Japanese consulate building where Sugihara and his wife personally signed visas for refugees, often working long hours under great pressure. The exhibition has been modernized with support from the Japanese government and offers visitors an immersive experience into the interwar period of Kaunas, highlighting diplomatic and espionage activities of the time. It also serves as a center for educational programs, seminars, and commemorations of Sugihara’s humanitarian legacy. Annually, the museum attracts thousands of visitors from Japan, Lithuania, and other countries, making it a significant cultural and historical site honoring courage and compassion in the face of adversity.
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Tipp: The best time to visit Sugihara House is during regular opening hours from Wednesday to Friday, 11:00 to 16:00. Visitors are encouraged to book experience tours in advance, which offer immersive insights into the interwar Kaunas atmosphere and Sugihara's story. Discounts are available for children aged 7-12. The museum also hosts educational events and film evenings; check their official website for the latest schedule. Purchasing tickets online or in advance is recommended to secure your visit, especially for special experience tours.
Interessante Fakten
- •Chiune Sugihara issued thousands of transit visas by hand, sometimes signing visas from a moving train.
- •The visas allowed Jewish refugees to travel through the Soviet Union via the Trans-Siberian Railway to Japan, escaping Nazi persecution.
- •Sugihara’s actions were against official Japanese government policy and risked his career and safety.
- •The museum was significantly modernized in 2008 with funding from the Japanese government.
- •Each year, about 7,000 visitors come from Japan, with an additional 2,000 from other countries and Lithuania to visit the museum.
Geschichte
Chiune Sugihara arrived in Kaunas in 1939 to establish the Japanese consulate, officially to foster economic ties but also to gather intelligence.
Following the 1939 invasions of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union, many Jewish refugees fled to Lithuania seeking visas to escape Europe.
Despite Japanese government policies requiring strict visa issuance criteria, Sugihara defied orders and began issuing transit visas in July-August 1940, working tirelessly to help refugees travel through Japan.
The consulate was closed in September 1940, but Sugihara continued signing visas even on his train journey leaving Kaunas.
After the war, he resigned in 1947 and was later recognized as Righteous Among the Nations in 1985.
The former consulate building was transformed into a memorial museum in Kaunas, preserving his legacy.
OrtsfĂĽhrer
The Former Japanese Consulate Building1939-1940
The original building where Chiune Sugihara established the Japanese consulate in Kaunas and issued visas to Jewish refugees during 1939-1940. It now houses the museum and preserves the authentic atmosphere of that period.
Interactive Exhibition and Experience Tours2008 (modernization)
Modernized exhibitions funded by the Japanese government that offer visitors an immersive experience of interwar Kaunas, diplomatic and espionage life, and Sugihara’s humanitarian acts. The experience tours include sensory elements such as Japanese cuisine tasting and historical storytelling.
Kontakt
Telefon: (0-37) 332881