Kinparo Ryokan in Kumamoto Faces Major Earthquake Damage, Owner Vows Rebuild

The century‑old Kinparo ryokan in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, was severely damaged by the July 28 earthquake. The inn’s main building and gate, both registered as tangible cultural properties, suffered extensive collapse, with the gate and walls cracking and interior decorations falling.

Manager Misao Matsumoto, 72, expressed determination to rebuild but worries about the time required and the debt burden. After the 2016 earthquakes the inn took about ¥30 million in loans, which the family is still repaying. Matsumoto noted that the damage is worse than the 2016 twin quakes and that aftershocks are worsening wall cracks. She hopes to reopen the ryokan, receiving encouraging messages from former guests.

The inn, founded in 1910 at the Hinagu hot‑spring resort, is both a business and a cultural landmark for the region, and its possible reconstruction will affect local tourism and heritage preservation.