located immediately after the kakushōkaku, the was built to introduce the public to the garden and its creator through exhibits, images and works of art. a gifu prefecture native, hara was the eldest son of yanaizuchō village's headman. from childhood he liked and studied the fine arts, sinology and poetry, finally beginning formal studies in 1885 in what is now tokyo's waseda university. after graduation, he became a teacher at the atomi school for girls. born aoki, he changed it later after marrying one of his students and being adopted by her family. he became the head of the family trading business and was very successful. after moving to sankei-en's present location in honmoku, he started collecting old buildings, rebuilding them in his garden. he then decided to open the garden to the public for free in 1906.