The hot spring town of Hinagu is located in the southern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, a short distance south of Yatsushiro on the Hisatsu Orange Railway. This hot spring was once a favorite haunt of the Hosokawa family, the lords of the Kumamoto domain, and the Satsuma clan used to stop by here on their way to Edo (present-day Tokyo). Although it is a bit remote, there are still many huge old inns lining the streets, reminding us of the prosperity of the past. On an autumn afternoon near dusk, I would like to take a tour of this town, starting from Hinagu Onsen Station.
熊本県南部、八代から肥薩オレンジ鉄道で少し南に行ったところに、日奈久の温泉街はあります。熊本藩主細川家の奥座敷として重用されたこの温泉は、薩摩藩が参勤交代の折にわざわざ立ち寄ったなど、歴史と伝統のある名湯です。少々鄙びた雰囲気はあるものの、今なお巨大な老舗旅館が軒を連ね、往時の繁栄ぶりを偲ばせてくれます。夕暮れ間近な秋の午後、日奈久温泉駅を起点に、この街を巡りたいと思います。