Hearn Memorial Hall
Hearn Memorial Hall
4
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
181 reviews
Excellent
35
Very good
91
Average
51
Poor
4
Terrible
0
Martina1888
Inverness, UK506 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
I had heard about Lafcadio Hearn before visiting the museum but did know nothing about him. The exhibition gives an intriguing overview about his exciting life and made me really want to read some of his work. All the descriptions are in English and Japanese and one the second floor is a library with his books in English as well. Highly recommended.
Written November 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScribblingGeek
Singapore523 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
It's small but the exhibits are comprehensive, introducing not only Hearn's works but his colorful life too. Visitors who can read Japanese will probably be thrilled by the sizable library on the second floor. The library has both different editions of Hearn's works, and commentaries about him.
Written December 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helen C
Hong Kong, China730 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
A very well documented museum. Inspiring and interesting. Hearn had played an important part in Japan’s history.
Written October 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffrey F
Ilkeston, UK1,400 contributions
Nov 2015 • Solo
As a British person living in Japan 45 years ago, Lafcadio Hearn was one of those semi-mythical figures you felt you knew, and yet didn’t really know at all. I never got to visit Matsue to see his most famous dwelling until a recent return visit so made the effort. Although he only actually lived in the house for 5 months - it was here that he met his wife, Setsu & set up an independent home for the first time.
There are photographic & literary displays of his life, family, & works with explanations of his background & motivations & some of his old (westernised) furniture in the Japanese setting. The small garden is an additional attraction to visitors – as it was to Hearn himself. The place is not very big & can be seen in 30-45 minutes. It is however set amongst a number of old samurai houses on the most photogenic street in town. Nearby are Buke Yashiki (an ancient middle-ranking Samurai residence) & the Tanabe Museum of Art. They all face one the lovely canals & several restful cafes, which themselves open out onto the canal – so you can watch the tourist boats at leisure. It is a few minutes’ walk from Matsue Castle grounds. Being on the Lakeside Circular Tourist bus route & it easy to get to.
There are photographic & literary displays of his life, family, & works with explanations of his background & motivations & some of his old (westernised) furniture in the Japanese setting. The small garden is an additional attraction to visitors – as it was to Hearn himself. The place is not very big & can be seen in 30-45 minutes. It is however set amongst a number of old samurai houses on the most photogenic street in town. Nearby are Buke Yashiki (an ancient middle-ranking Samurai residence) & the Tanabe Museum of Art. They all face one the lovely canals & several restful cafes, which themselves open out onto the canal – so you can watch the tourist boats at leisure. It is a few minutes’ walk from Matsue Castle grounds. Being on the Lakeside Circular Tourist bus route & it easy to get to.
Written November 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KatrinkaSD
San Diego, CA309 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
If you have not read Lafcadio Hearn's works, they are worth a look before you go. They really do describe not only the importance of this locality, but its critical place in Japanese history. You will enjoy the area much more if you take the time to read at least a bit of his works. The Memorial Hall does an impeccable job describing his life, and also his family. I had ALWAYS wondered who was the source of his information. A half-blind foreigner living in an extremely remote region of Japan must have had someone's dedicated support. Not surprisingly, like his contemporaries, Mark Twain and Leo Tolstoy, he relied heavily on his wife, Setsu Koizumi. Like Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmond Hillary, it was nice to see a partnership so lovingly acknowledged more than a century later.
Written November 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sally N
Hong Kong, China28 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
I've never heard of Hearn before but the memorial hall provided a lot of useful information for me to understand this Irish man who had called Japan home in the past
Written May 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ibjpn13
Pleasant Prairie, WI48 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Nice museum and former residence Lafcadio Hearn. I've read one of his books years ago and was interested to vist this author's former home and the museum next to it. Charming small home with a nice traditional Japanese garden and a very nice museum with small A/V room where you can watch a short film on this author. Worth a visit if in Matsue.
Written April 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yasuko G
Portland, OR293 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
When I went there, I have very little knowledge about him. I understand how and why he love Japan and its culture so much. Understanding him was also understanding my own culture and where I come from. Thank you.
Written March 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DERtravels
Pomona, CA1,451 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Lafcadio Hearn was a British national of Greek and Irish descent who fell in love with Japan, married the daughter of a Matsue samurai and became a naturalized Japanese citizen. He produced 30 works which were mainly translations, travelogues and retelling of folk tales.
The museum has chronological displays of his life, tracing his worldly travels and his life in Japan. There is also a library of his works. A very interesting part of one man's
contribution to understanding Japanese culture.
Admission is 400 Yen for an adult, 200 Yen for child. Open all year round from 0830 to 1700, later in the summer.
The museum has chronological displays of his life, tracing his worldly travels and his life in Japan. There is also a library of his works. A very interesting part of one man's
contribution to understanding Japanese culture.
Admission is 400 Yen for an adult, 200 Yen for child. Open all year round from 0830 to 1700, later in the summer.
Written January 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vanessa Y
Tokyo, Japan810 contributions
Dec 2014
If you know about Lafacadio Hearn and some of his work, it makes for an interesting visit. It's a great little museum, that's well put together. Some of the items on display (not all of them) have English explanations. It only takes about 30 mins at most.
Written September 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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