Museum of Natsume Soseki

Another one to add to the 'closed' list - the main museum dedicated to the life of Natsume Soseki (there are at least 3 in Kumamoto, this is the largest) has been closed since the Kumamoto Earthquake. No signs on the door about possible opening dates as of yet.

I took a walk around this side of the building and saw one of the red 'unsafe' building labels, but on closer inspection it looked like it was actually attached to the old property next door rather than the actual museum. As for the museum, from the outside there didn't seem to be too much damage - some of the cladding had come away from the newer part of the building (Western style) but the wooden shutters across the veranda all seemed to be intact. Also, no noticeable damage in the garden which is good news because it is a truly lovely spot (if a bit over populated with mosquitoes!)

So, another one to keep our eye on and hope the it can reopen soon. In the meanwhile, I'll try to find out about the other Natsume Soseki museums in and around Kumamoto as a tourism alternative.

Click Here for More Information About the Natsume Soseki Museum