Yugawara Onsen and Itouya
Yugawara Onsen has been loved by many literati and ink artists since ancient times.
About Yugawara Onsen
Yugawara Onsen is an ancient hot spring mentioned in the Manyoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves) as "Yunose ni deturu Ashigara no Tsuchiwo Fukuru ni izuruni." A monument with this poem is installed in Manyo Park.
Various literati and ink artists, including Kuroda Seiki, Arishima Takeo, and Sanyutei Encho, have stayed at our inn. During his stay, Sanyutei Encho wrote the human-interest story "Master Nagaji," and the story includes the landscape of Yugawara Onsen at that time and the name of the first generation of our inn.
Therapeutic Effects of Hot Springs
Due to the healing properties beneficial for injuries, burns, and neuralgia, Yugawara Onsen became a designated hot spring for convalescent soldiers after the First Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars.
According to the rules for hot spring accommodations in September of Meiji 34 (1901), at that time, there were only nine inns. Records also show that hot spring water was sent to the Imperial Palace and the Imperial villa in Numazu at the beginning of the Taisho era, continuing to the present day.
Duke Tokudaiji and Itouya
For the stay of Duke Tokudaiji, who was the chamberlain of Emperor Meiji, a building with room number 52 was built at the beginning of the Taisho era. It is a two-story building constructed on the slope of the mountain behind the right-hand side after entering the gate.
Later, in April of Taisho 15 (1926), the main building was constructed in front of the annex. These two buildings are registered tangible cultural properties of the country.