Archives by Tag 'Onsen'

Small Japanese inn reborn as one of the Leading Hotels of the World

Part-2

Mt. Zao Onsen Resort & Spa brings you to completely different world and it lingers on you unique imagery.

As the part two, I would like to inform a little bit about Onsen facilities of Chikusenso, Mt. Zao Onsen Resort & Spa including its attractive accommodations in detail.

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Umino Hotel Shimahana open in July

Renovated Royal Grace Hotel reborn as “Umino Hotel Simahana” under Hotel New Awaji Group

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Enjoy, Your own paradise at Private Onsen

August, 2002  Unyu Tenzan

Resting Area & Bathhouse Okuzashiki, Okunoyu

The resting area was one of the last temporary structures remaining from Tenzan’s opening in 1966. The old structure, located on the site near the erosion control bank in the Sukumogawa River, had used as private guest rooms for resting. The Tenzan management planned replacing it to new style private Onsen area.

A new two-story building was constructed in 2002, to replace it. In this new building, the 1^st floor was named “ZashikiI-bokko” or a Japanese Tatami-room for being pleasantly idle, and contained a resting area and a small library.

The 2^nd floor was named “Kakuregumo” or a detached cloud, and it enclosed 7 more private resting areas. Both floors are connected with the main building via a corridor and an overhead bridge.

“Zashiki-bokko” is built so its floor slowly descends toward the riverbank, where there is an abundance of steam in the air. Beautiful greenery landscape on the other side of the riverbank can be observed from the Japanese room. You can enjoy fresh air if you fully open the all wide glass windows, as you feel like resting in nature.

“Kakuregumo” on the 2^nd floor, is built like a circling mezzanine with an opening in the middle, which provides image of sequence, and guest can observe the scenery below.

A private outdoor bath is located at the deepest end, and reserved only for “Kakuregumo” users. Thanks to two additional wells, there is abundance of Onsen water available. The new private outdoor bath was named “Okunoyu” or remote Onsen.

A simple wooden hut structured with bare chestnut tree pillars was built as the changing room. The roof is covered with cedar bark, the veranda has a bamboo floor and only a lattice door is employed as an interior fitting. The Tenzan owner had strongly hoped that the changing room would look like a grass hut. Architect, Mr. Hiroshi Ebisawa understood his good sense.

The rustic outdoor bath “Yaten-buro” has no roof and is surrounded by green grass. It is simply laid out in the deep mountain.

You really feel something like bathing in nature. Abundance of Onsen water and surrounding nature is just reserved for you. It is a kind of supreme pleasure, isn’t it?

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A thatched Onsen inn, Yutorian opened

Old thatched houses are renovated as Onsen lodges

When you drive up along the Usunegawa River from Numata City in Gunma Prefecture, you will arrive in an old hot spring, Kawaba Onsen at a small basin in the Hotaka highlands. It is said that the Great Teacher, Kobo Daish founded the Onsen. Meanwhile, you will see several beautiful old Japanese houses with thatched roof along the street. These thatched old houses used to be private residences in Japan, but no more use for modern living. Read the rest of this entry »

Unique Onsen in the Central Osaka

Super Hotel City Osaka Natural Hot Spring

Every thing is quite unique in the Onsen hotel in Osaka, named the Super Hotel City Osaka. It is under one of the big hotel chains named “Super Hotel” in Japan. The chain has 95 business hotels as of April 1, 2010. Mr. Ryosuke Yamamoto, CEO, has put special concern on his hotel rooms providing comfortable conditions for good sleep. For example, all rooms are soundproofed form street noise. There are several kinds of pillows so that you can choose most suitable type among them. The next morning after good sleep, you can enjoy buffet style breakfast in the restaurant with reasonable prices, 730 yen for adult, and 480 yen for child. Read the rest of this entry »

Old “Banpeiyu” Onsen Renewed

Edo-style “My Lord’s Onsen” revived.

The origin of Banpeiyu” dates back to about 600 years ago in the Period of North and South Dynasties in history. The old document said that a deity in Rokuro’s dream suggested where should be dug for finding Onsen. Rokuro was a son of the defeated soldier, Ukon Hamada who was fleeing the enemy. The son was trying to find Onsen to cure his father’s sword wound caused by the civil war. He followed what the deity said and could find a hot spring there. It is said to be the origin of Hinagu Onsen in 1409. Although, nobody knows real story, at least “Hinagu” Onsen has existed since 600 years ago. Read the rest of this entry »

A Lodge “HAGOROMO”in Hakone Tenzan

Unyu Tenzan is located 30 meters below the old Hakone Kaido highway, at the front banks of Sukumogawa River. Visitors can see the stream rising between the trees. It looks something like a Shangri-La in the deep mountain. Sitting just next to the Japanese style Tenzan bathhouses, there was a Spanish style resort house owned by a financial institution in Tokyo. The combination of typical Japanese bathhouses and Spanish resort house had created something very unique contrast. Read the rest of this entry »

“SAIOU-NO-MIYA” is really a dramatic world of Heian dynasty

 We have three major Shinto shrines in Japan. They are Ise Jingu in Mie, Iwa-shimizu-hachiman-gu and Kamo-jinnja in Kyoto. The Hotel Sen-no-mori is very close to one of the three, Ise-jingu. The hotel added new attraction to their clients when opened “SAIOU-NO-MIYA” guest house in the hotel compound on November 7, last year. Read the rest of this entry »

“KAMA-BURO” is still trendy bathing style!

There are two ways of enjoyment of bathing. “Onyoku” or hot water bathing is one. Another is a sauna form of the steam bath.

Original bath in Japan is said to be a steam bath but not hot water bath, which dates back to ancient or even in pre-historical years. The Japanese word “FURO” or bath is considered to be the same meaning of “MURO” or room. The “FURO” or bathroom was actually a small cave with a vent behind. In the old days, a hole that is large enough for a person, were dug into a rock. Branches were burnt inside, and then wet seaweed or straw mats wet in sea water were laid on top to create steam for the sauna. The “ISHIBURO”or stone bath in the Itsukushima Island is typical one among them. It is said that “KOBO-DAISHI”or Great Buddhist Priest Kobo created it. This style of bathing still exists in a few places in the Seto Inland Sea area.

“KAMABURO”or earthen pot bath in Yase, Kyoto is also the origin of Japanese bath in different kind. It dates back to the Battle of Jinshin in 672 A.D. in Japanese history. It is said that Prince Ohama (Later Emperor Tenmu) was wounded by an enemy’s arrow on his back in the battle. He bathed in “KAMABURO” to cure his arrow wound. People says that the name of place 八瀬（矢背）“YA-SE” or arrow-back originated from this event.

Modern “KAMABURO” is usually made of concrete and plaster mixture, sitting on top heat absorbing bricks. Burner flames heat up the bricks, when then heat up the “KAMA” or a pot. Bathers lay on straw mat placed on the floor in a pot. Occasionally water is sprinkled over the straw mat to maintain the temperature of approximately 50 degree Centigrade (120 degree Fahrenheit), for longer enjoyment.

This “KAMABURO” process is rarely used now, due to lack of skilled builders. Fortunately, you can still enjoy this time honored bathing style in Hakone Tenzan. Is it considered to be something obsolete style? Answer is no. It is really a kind of simple and natural bathing style, and still very attractive and trendy even in today.

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How about Farmers’ Onsen!

“KARIN-NO-YU” Onsen opened in a Local Farm

As you know, I wrote about fishermen’s Onsen, “TORETORE-NO-YU” in Shirahama, last time. How about farmers Onsen!  Yes, one of the well known agricultural corporations, “WAGOEN” Group started Onsen business on June 23, 2009.

The group is successful agricultural company associated with local farmers in Katori, Chiba Prefecture. They are now planning to create new kind of theme park based on direct sales stores for their agricultural products. The plan includes rental farms, vacation cottages, a campsite, a small stock farm, and an open-air theater. These facilities will be laid out on the land that includes one local Onsen named “BENI-KOMACHI”. Read the rest of this entry »

Edo-style “UKIYO-BURO” was revived in Hakone Tenzan.

Hakone Tenzan renovated Men’s Inner Bath in 1998.

The men’s inner bath was redesigned with the similar improvements. An “URUSHI-BURO” or ancient cypress bath tub coated with japan was also employed, here. Actually, the “URUSHI-BURO” set for women’s inner bath could not last long and beautiful color of japan faded caused by ultraviolet rays in less than a year. Learned from this bad experience, experimental trials were done, and finally anti-fade lacquer was developed. The new type of anti-fade lacquer was applied to both inner bathes for men and women. So, now you can enjoy Onsen bathing in a beautiful “URUSHI-BURO” that is finished as the same quality as traditional japan lacquer ware.
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43. Onsen with the best Feng Shui – yukari

Strictly built according to the principles of Feng Shui, Yukari (深大寺温泉ゆかり） is a beautifully appointed hot spring in Tokyo’s western suburbs. The baths are marked with the cardinal directions for proper orientation during soaking. Read the rest of this entry »

Pretend yourself being a present-day “ISSUN-BOSHI”.

Architect, Mr. Hiroshi Ebisawa employed the same concept of “openness” used for the annex bathhouse “IKKYU.” An ordinal and mediocre old inner bath was completely redesigned and reconstructed in 1995.

New women’s inner bath was protruded to the outside next to the outdoor bath in half. You can enjoy feeling in outdoor while staying in an inner bath.

An “URUSHI-BURO” or old “HINOKI” cypress bath lacquered with japan was employed this time. The japan bathtub is maintenance free and can be used without weekly day off.

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18. You can act as bait in the world’s most truly bizarre beauty treatment – Ooedo Onsen Monogatari

A toe-curling, heel-buffing experience. This spa treatment, sinisterly named ‘Doctor Fish,’ at Odaiba’s Ooedo Onsen Monogatari involves sticking your feet in a tub for half an hour, while tiny fish nibble away at your corns and calluses. Read the rest of this entry »

Ticking down slowly in Atami

Do you know what is “Sukiya Zukuri (数寄屋造り)” ? It is one of the Japanese traditional architectural style. “Sukiya” is not sukiyaki, it is built in the style of a tea-ceremony house. “Suki (数寄)” originally means delight in poems(waka), tea-ceremony, flower arrangement and those elegant pursuits. It means the house built accordance with their taste synonym for tea-ceremony house.

We stayed at Sukiya Zukuri hotel called “Seki-tei (石亭)” in Atami, Shizuoka prefecture. It is high class Onsen (hot spring bath) hotel. What a peaceful and beautiful place it is…

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