Lafcadio Hearn, one of the first Western authors of Japanese culture, lived in Matsue for about one year of his life. Hearn's former residence is now open to the public along with a museum located next door that is dedicated to his work and person.

Lafcadio Hearn was born in Greece in 1850 to a father from Ireland and a mother from Greece. Hearn resided in Greece, Ireland, Britain, France and the USA before emigrating to Japan in 1890. There he held various teaching positions, married a Japanese lady and was naturalized as Koizumi Yakumo, the name he remains known under in Japan. He passed away in Tokyo in 1904.

Hearn is best known for his books that introduced Japan to the Western world such as "Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan" and a collection of translated legends "Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things".

Getting there and around

Lafcadio Hearn's former residence is located in the samurai district, north of Matsue Castle. It is connected with Matsue's railway stations by the Lakeline loop bus.

How to get to and around Matsue

Hours and Fees

Hours

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Admission

Hotels around Matsue

Top rated in Matsue
Budget:
    • KIAN the guest house
      Budget-friendly
      KIAN the guest house, a property with a garden, is set in Matsue, less than 1 km from Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, 4.3 km from Lake Shinji, as well as 25 km from Atagoyama Park. This 2-star guest house offers a concierge service and a housekeeping service. Free WiFi is available and private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. The guest house is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Mizuki Shigeru Road is 25 km from the guest house, while Hirata Honjin Memorial Museum is 25 km away. The nearest airport is Izumo Airport, 25 km from KIAN the guest house.
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    • Onyado Nono Matsue Natural Hot Spring
      Luxury
      Set 1.7 km from Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, Onyado Nono Matsue Natural Hot Spring offers 4-star accommodation in Matsue and has a spa and wellness centre. Offering a restaurant, the property also has a bar, as well as a sauna and a hot spring bath. Private parking is available on site. All units in the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV. All guest rooms at Onyado Nono Matsue Natural Hot Spring feature air conditioning and a desk. Speaking English and Japanese at the 24-hour front desk, staff are always at hand to help. Lake Shinji is 3.8 km from the accommodation, while Atagoyama Park is 25 km from the property. The nearest airport is Izumo Airport, 24 km from Onyado Nono Matsue Natural Hot Spring.
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    • Fukumakan
      Mid-range
      Counting an almost 200-year history, Fukumakan features Japanese-style rooms and freestanding cottages, some overlooking Miho Bay. Bicycle rentals are available, and the hotel offers a free shuttle to/from Yonago Airport and JR Sakai-Minato Station. Fukumakan is only a 1-minute walk from Miho Jinja Shrine, and a 20-minute drive from the Mizuki Shigeru Road. JR Sakai-Minato Station is a 20-minute drive, and Yonago Airport a 30-minute drive away. All accommodations have a tatami (woven-straw) floor and Japanese futon bedding. Amenities include air conditioning and an LCD TV, while some rooms have a fridge and an attached bathroom. Yukata robes are provided. Fukumakan, a registered property of the Japan Ryokan Association, features a hot public bath, drinks vending machines and free parking. Pets are allowed upon advance requests, at extra charge. The hotel offers Japanese dishes for breakfast and dinner. Meals are served at the dining room.
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    • Guest house daisho oshiro asobi
      Budget-friendly
      Located less than 1 km from Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, Guest house daisho oshiro asobi offers 1-star accommodation in Matsue and features a garden, a terrace and a shared lounge. There is an on-site restaurant, plus free private parking and free WiFi are available. The guest house has family rooms. The guest house is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Lake Shinji is 4.3 km from the guest house, while Atagoyama Park is 25 km away. The nearest airport is Izumo Airport, 25 km from Guest house daisho oshiro asobi.
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    • Hotel Ichibata
      Luxury
      Situated in Matsue and with Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum reachable within 1.8 km, Hotel Ichibata features concierge services, allergy-free rooms, a bar, free WiFi throughout the property and a spa and wellness centre. Featuring a restaurant, the property also has a garden, as well as a sauna and a hot tub. Private parking is available on site. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a shared bathroom with a bidet. At Hotel Ichibata the rooms include bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Hotel Ichibata offers 4-star accommodation with a hot spring bath. Guests at the hotel will be able to enjoy activities in and around Matsue, like fishing. Staff speak English and Japanese at the 24-hour front desk. Lake Shinji is 4 km from Hotel Ichibata, while Atagoyama Park is 23 km from the property. The nearest airport is Izumo Airport, 25 km from the accommodation.
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    • Green Rich Hotel Matsue Station Across - Artificial hot spring Futamata Yunohana
      Mid-range
      Situated in Matsue, 2.6 km from Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, Green Rich Hotel Matsue Station Across - Artificial hot spring Futamata Yunohana features accommodation with a restaurant and private parking. This 3-star hotel offers luggage storage space. The hotel has a sauna, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi throughout the property. A buffet breakfast is available each morning at the hotel. Lake Shinji is 3.8 km from Green Rich Hotel Matsue Station Across - Artificial hot spring Futamata Yunohana, while Mizuki Shigeru Road is 25 km from the property. The nearest airport is Izumo Airport, 24 km from the accommodation.
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    • Hotel Gyokusen
      Mid-range
      5.4 km from Lake Shinji in Matsue, Hotel Gyokusen features accommodation with access to a sauna, hot spring bath and public bath. It is set 10 km from Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum and provides a 24-hour front desk. The ryokan also offers free WiFi, free private parking and facilities for disabled guests. There is a private bathroom with bath in some units, along with slippers, a hair dryer and free toiletries. At the ryokan, some units are allergy-free. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Guests can also relax in the garden or in the shared lounge area. Atagoyama Park is 23 km from the ryokan, while Hirata Honjin Memorial Museum is 24 km from the property. Izumo Airport is 19 km away.
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    • Onsen Guest House Aobato no Su
      Budget-friendly
      Featuring free WiFi throughout the property, Onsen Guest House Aobato no Su offers accommodation in Matsue, a few steps from Tamatsukuri Onsen. Free private parking is available on site. All rooms include a flat-screen TV. Every room is fitted with a shared bathroom. You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property. The ryokan also offers bike hire. Lake Shinji is 4.1 km from Onsen Guest House Aobato no Su, while Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum is 8 km from the property. The nearest airport is Yonago Airport, 22 km from the property.
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    • Matsue Excel Hotel Tokyu
      Mid-range
      Located just a 3-minute walk from JR Matsue Station, Matsue Excel Hotel Tokyu provides simple guest rooms fitted with modern amenities. Free in-room wired internet is provided. All guest rooms are non-smoking at this hotel. Guests can smoke in a designated smoking booth. The hotel features banquet facilities, and drink vending machines can be used. Rooms at Tokyu Matsue Excel Hotel come with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a small fridge and an electric kettle. An air-purifier is also provided in the room. Izumo Airport is a 30-minute limousine bus ride from the station. Matsue Castle can be reached within a 5-minute drive, and historic Izumo Taisha Shrine is a 1-hour drive away. On-site Restaurant Mosoro offers a Japanese and Western breakfast buffet, a buffet lunch and dinner. Casual set meals and a la carte menus are available for dinner.
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    • Hotel Route Inn Matsue
      Mid-range
      A 7-minute ride to JR Matsue Train Station on the hotelfs free shuttle, Hotel Route-Inn offers rooms with a flat-screen TV, free internet and a private bathroom. Parking is free. Guests at Hotel Route-Inn Matsue enjoy air-conditioned rooms with a green tea maker and pay TV programs. Each room has a work desk, and the en suite bathroom includes a bathtub and slippers. The hotel is about 1.5 km from Matsue Castle, Shimane Art Museum and the Bukeyashiki Samurai Houses. Ao Ishidatami Dori (Blue Stone Approach) Traditional Street is 25 km away. A coin launderette are provided. Locally produced items are offered at the gift shop. NAGOMI Restaurant serves a daily breakfast buffet featuring European breads.
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