Japan Trip: Looking back in History at the Lafcadio Hearn Former Residence in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
【★009★Shimane Matsue Lafcadio Hearn’s Former Residence】
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Within the samurai town of Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture, visitors can visit the former residence of Lafcadio Hearn, one of the first western authors on Japanese culture. His former residence is now opened to the public.
Though Lafcadio Hearn was born in Greece, his Matsue home was traditionally Japanese. The exterior is the then typical strong Japanese gate while on the other side of the gate is a traditional Japanese garden. Visitors can explore through his home, examining the hanging scrolls in the tatami rooms.
Lafcadio arrived in Japan in 1890. During his time here, he married a Japanese lady and became a naturalized Japanese citizen, taking the name Koizumi Yakumo. Among his works are “Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan” and “Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things”. For a deeper understanding of Lafcadio Hearn, there is a museum next to his residence, with collections on both his work and Lafcadio Hearn, the person.
Hours: 8:30 to 18:30 (until 17:00 from October to March)
Last entry is 20 minutes before the closing time.
Closed: Opened all Year Round
Admission: 300 yen each for the museum and residence (50% off for foreign tourists)
1160 yen (also includes Matsue Castle and samurai residence)
920 yen (three sites of your choice: museum, residence, castle or samurai residence)
Access Information: Lafcadio Hearn’s former residence is located in the samurai district, north of Matsue Castle.
From Matsue’s train stations, please board the. “Lake Line” loop bus