Earthquake Damage at the Honmyouji Temple Area - A Photographic Special

There isn't much for hikers and ramblers around Kumamoto city, and so the Honmyouji Temple area is a good compromise if you want to get out and have a bit of a stomp. It isn't far from the city centre (on the tram, stop B3 (blue line) is only a few minutes walk away from the entrance) and is well worth visiting.

The temple is set out in a long strip, starting at the main arch and going down a road lined with small cemeteries and temples, and there is a lovely temple and garden at the bottom of the hill on the right-hand side. From there, the hillside is lined with carved gravestones that look like lanterns, with steps running up either side. At the top of those steps is a small tea house on the right. In front of you is the main temple, and then beyond that (go around the left-hand side) there are another 300 steps to climb to the top, emerging out of the forest and into a clearing with an impressive statue and a commanding view of the city.

Sometimes there are events and exhibitions within the main temple but entry to the grounds are free.

Click Here for the Honmyouji Temple Website (Japanese)

The main archway at the entrance was damaged in the earthquake. Facing the arch, if you turn left down beside a small temple and play park, follow the main road up a little and you can take a steep right turn and get up to a point just behind the arch.

 Damage to the main arch.

View from behind of the main arch - the large statues which sit at the top of these columns seemed to be undamaged and had not fallen down.

Fallen gravestones in one of the small cemeteries.

 There used to be a small 'rest house' in this spot. 

The old rest house which was destroyed.

 Leaning precariously over towards the toilets...

 I was pleasantly surprised by how few of these had fallen over. 

These photos of the view from the top were taken last year - what with the damage to the Kumamoto Castle and the abundance of blue tarp around the city, I dare-say that the view looks quite altered now.

Despite the damage, Honmyouji is still a lovely place to visit in Kumamoto - it's free, outdoors and usually nice and quiet. Sometimes local schools get the kids to run up and down the steps as exercise so if your visit coincides with that it won't be so peaceful... There are some festivals in July at the Honmyouji Temple too so be sure to check the dates and times of those if you're interested.

Memories of Teacher Janes Mansion - A Photographic Special

One of my absolute favourite attractions in Kumamoto (I visited 3 times in 2015!) and so I was heartbroken to hear it had been destroyed in the earthquake. Such a pity, but not surprising really when you think about the age of the building (built in 1871) and the style in which it was built.

I think some people are a little bemused by how upset I am about this loss to the city. Everyone agrees that it is a great pity how the Kumamoto Castle has been so badly damaged - it is the famous icon of the city. But for me personally, the loss of Teacher Janes Mansion is just as worthy of your sorrow.

The building was beautiful - it was light and airy and roomy and thoroughly un-Japanese. Janes himself was utterly un-Japanese too, and quite a trailblazer. The first foreigner to live in the city, it is amazing how much of the way we live our daily life here in Kumamoto is owed to Teacher Janes. Aside from being a revolutionary teacher (not least of all because he allowed girls to learn in his classroom as well as boys) he was also a pioneer of the Christian faith in this city, and with his roots in agricultural farming he revolutionized agriculture in this city, improving the lives of countless people.

Click Here to Discover More About Janes Amazing Life

Enjoy these photos of Teacher Janes Mansion (also the birthplace of the Japanese Red Cross Society) before and after the earthquake.

Photos from May 2015.

Original sketches of Kumamoto people going about their daily lives, circa 1890.

A straw basket used as a makeshift stretcher by the Japanese Red Cross.

Comic detail on an artistic tray, displayed in the upper room of the house.

Books about Leroy Janes.

Statue in the garden (which survived the quake) belonging to the Red Cross.

Photos from October 2015.

Wonderful autumnal colours.

The picture above the fireplace depicts when the Hakuaisha became the Japanese Red Cross - in that very room.

Pictures taken on 23/05/16. Pleased to see the blue tarp on it now - perhaps that means that they will be able to salvage some of the artefacts and relics buried beneath.

Photos of the Wreckage (Before the Tarp) can be Viewed Here - Japanese Website

Suizenji Park - Free Entry For One More Week

Another post about Suizenji Koen  (水前寺公園 - Suizenji Park) in Kumamoto, just to remind you all that it is free entry until the end of this month. The park sustained a fair bit of damage in the earthquake, and the most noticable was that the water drained away from the pond - the top beauty point of the park. While much reduced compared to usual, the pond does have water in it again, and repair works are under way. If you have been to Suizenji before you might notice that the large torii (archway) at the entrance to the temple has gone. The small shops that open in the summer (cafes and souvenir shops I presume - I've never seem them open) also took some damage.

Seeing as you'l be saving money on the entrance fee, consider spending your Yen at one of the souvenir shops near the main entrance - some of the shops have been unable to reopen since the earthquake and I'm sure that the ones that have opened would be grateful for your business. If you haven't tried one yet, you could purchase an ikinari dango いきなりだんご - these snacks are famous in Kumamoto and Suizenji Park area is the best place to try one. They're oh-so Japanese (honestly, I'm not a big fan...) but you should certainly give it a go if you haven't tried one yet!

Alternatively, inside the park is a lovely little tea house which is recognisable by its thatched roof, which thankfully survived the earthquake in tact. With a prime view of the park and the pond, purchase a match tea set for 550 Yen (100 Yen extra if you want to sit inside rather than in the garden area) which comes with a cup of fresh, foamy matcha green tea and a small Japanese sweet. Usually there are two sweets to choose from (a fruity wafer and a creamy white one) but they only had the fruity one when I visited this week.

Click Here for More Information About Suizenji Park