Lafcadio Hearn was born in Greece and moved to Japan in 1890. He is also known to Japanese as Koizumi Yakumo. He married Miss Koizumi Setsu, a daughter of a samurai. While teaching English, he lived in many cities in Japan and published the old tales of Japan. The most famous work is "Kwaidan" - the horror stories known to Japanese for centuries. This itinerary will enable you to visit many historical sites both lived in and written about by Lafcadio Hearn.
THE SUGGESTED ITINERARY
DAY
Arrive in Tokyo.
TOKYO
DAY
Visit Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Park in Okubo (near Shinjuku). Walk around the Waseda University campus where he taught, and Jisho-In Temple in Ichigaya, where his funeral was held. Also you can stroll the Kinokuni-Zaka area in Akasaka-Mitsuke. This slope appears in Mujina, one of the stories in Kwaidan as the place Mujina - the ghost lived. Today, this slope has become a highway. The last stop of the day is Tetsugaku-Do, Court of Philosophy in Nakano. This place was established by a Japanese philosopher, Inoue Enryo, who accidentally visited Matsue, where Hearn lived at the time.
TOKYO
DAY
Visit Kamakura by JR train. Many of the temples in Kamakura were introduced in Hearn's tales. Today's visits include Engaku-Ji (the most famous Zen temple in Kamakura). This temple was established by Hôjô Tokimuné, governor of Kamakura Shôgun Government in 1282. Kencho-Ji Temple (estabilished by Hôjô Tokiyori, father of Tokimuné, establisher of Engaku-ji) in 1253 as the first temple of Zen sect Buddism in Japan. Great Buddha at Kotoku-In, Enoshima Jinja and Kishibo-Jin.
TOKYO
DAY
Depart Tokyo for Yaizu, Shizuoka by JR train. Hearn loved to visit Yaizu port town in Summer with his family. Try fresh tuna in Yaizu.
YAIZU
DAY
Depart Yaizu for Kumamoto by JR train. His first son was also born here in Kumamoto. Explore the town he lived and relax after a long train ride from Yaizu.
KUMAMOTO
DAY
Today's visits include Kumamoto University where he taught. Stop by at Hanakake Jizo, Hearn's favorite stone buddha near the University. Urashima-Ya. This was a western-style ryokan Hearn once stayed. It is no longer operating as a hotel but reestablilished as a resource center. Last stop of the day is Yakumo Memorial Hall, which used to be his residence.
KUMAMOTO
DAY
Depart Kumamoto for Matsue by JR train. Matsue is full of history and culture. Izumo Taisha, the origin of Japanese myth is in Matsue. In 1951, Matsue was designated as an International Culture and Sightseeing City. Visit Matsue Castle, built in 1611 by the first lord and founding father of Matsue, Horio Yoshiharu. Meimai-An, a tea house and Samurai House (Buke Yashiki). Last stop of the day is Gessho-Ji Temple, where Hearn praised and loved its elegenace and serenity.
MATSUE SHINJIKO (LAKE SHINJI) ONSEN
DAY
Today, you will visit Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum and his former residence. In the afternoon, visit Izumo Taisha. Transfer to Osaka by JR train.
