A historic inn that has welcomed travelers for 130 years in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, is beginning its journey toward revival. Matsumotoya Ryokan, forced to close following evacuation orders after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, marks 15 years since that closure and has launched the "Matsumotoya Ryokan Revival Project" aimed at regional revitalization and preserving this historic building.
Additional Experience Tour Overview (Media Only)
Following the first tour (now closed), an additional experience tour has been announced for media representatives:
- Date & Time: February 28, 2026, 10:00 AM on-site gathering
- Capacity: Maximum 5 media organizations (please indicate number of participants)
- Location: Matsumotoya Ryokan (currently closed)
- Address: 36 Machi, Oaza Shimotsushima, Namie Town, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture
- Fee: Free (lunch will be provided)
- Accommodation: Not included (available under certain conditions)
Registration & Inquiries: Please contact the organization listed at the end of this article (media only).
Registration closes when capacity is reached.
Tour Program (Tentative)
- Interactive discussion session with Tsushima district residents and stakeholders
- Explanation of the Matsumotoya Ryokan Revival Project's background and future vision
- Study tour to learn about the current situation and challenges facing the Tsushima district
- Building tour (introduction to repaired sections and preserved areas)
About the 130-Year-Old Inn's Journey to Revival
Matsumotoya Ryokan in Namie Town, Fukushima, has hosted travelers in the region for 130 years. Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, the inn was forced to close under evacuation orders, and now, 15 years later, marks a turning point.
The "Matsumotoya Ryokan Revival Project" aims to revitalize the region and preserve this historic building. Led by inn owner Hidenori Konno, this initiative is being carried out together with local residents and stakeholders. The experience tour offers participants a chance to view the building that retains its pre-disaster appearance, hear about the revival plan, interact with local residents, and gain perspectives that can only be experienced on-site through a study tour of the Tsushima district's current situation.
Main Objectives of the Matsumotoya Ryokan Revival Project
Creating a Safe Space for Residents to Return Home
The project aims to establish a base where residents visiting the Tsushima district for homecoming, grave visits, or temporary returns can comfortably spend time.
Developing Dining Facilities to Improve Local Convenience
A restaurant utilizing the storehouse will offer lunch service. This addresses the current inconvenience caused by the absence of dining establishments in the Tsushima district.
Serving as a Hub for Study Tours and Observation Visits
The inn will function as a base for study tours focused on Tsushima's current situation and recovery efforts, promoting regional understanding and expanding visitor interaction.
Organizing Body: Humanitarian Supports
Message to Media Representatives
"Three days after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in March 2011, I entered the area and began radiation contamination surveys. The reality of the accident was made public in May of that year with NHK, generating significant response. At that time, I was involved in the re-evacuation of Namie Town center residents who had evacuated to the Tsushima district. Since then, I have continued to interact with Tsushima district residents, building deep relationships of trust. Through these connections, the Matsumotoya Ryokan Revival Project began to contribute to the region's reconstruction and recovery. The revival of Matsumotoya Ryokan is not simply about restoring a building. It is a challenge to reclaim lost time and create the region's future together. In this milestone year, 15 years after the accident, I hope you will convey through your coverage the atmosphere, temperature, and accumulated memories that can only be felt on-site."
— Shinzo Kimura, Representative Director, Humanitarian Supports
Message from Hidenori Konno
"Fifteen years since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, my hometown of Namie Town Tsushima has remained inaccessible, with homes left covered in grass as time stood still. Three years ago (March 31, 2023), part of the district was deregulated as a reconstruction base, but many homes have since been demolished, transforming the landscape into vacant lots. Those of us living in evacuation had received notices that one year after deregulation (April 1, 2024) was the application deadline for publicly funded demolition. As years passed with no ability to return, by the time entry became possible, only the decision remained of whether to preserve or abandon our homes. As the owner of a four-generation inn, I continued asking myself, 'Can I truly lose this testament to our ancestors and family?' Buildings hold the region's history and people's memories. I could not erase all of it, so I made the decision to preserve the inn. In Tsushima, an unreasonable passage of time continues even now. Nevertheless, I want to protect this place so that the testament to the people who lived here does not disappear."
— Hidenori Konno, Matsumotoya Ryokan
About Humanitarian Supports
A non-profit organization dedicated to humanitarian support, engaging in refugee assistance, support for those affected by nuclear disasters, and independence support for people with disabilities. The organization has continuously provided living support, medical assistance, and independence support to people in Ukraine.
Additionally, it has devoted effort to the recovery of Fukushima Prefecture's Namie Town Tsushima district, which faced long-term evacuation following the nuclear accident, continuing activities that stay close to the region, including residents' livelihood reconstruction, community regeneration, and health support.
Organization Overview
- Name: Humanitarian Supports
- Location: 67 Nishi-Katsuchi, Ota, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
- Representative Director: Shinzo Kimura (Radiation Hygiene Scholar, Associate Professor at Dokkyo Medical University)
- Established: November 1, 2022
- Website: https://fukushimacamp.com/
