People have enjoyed Onsen or hot spring bathing, long before written records were kept.Archaeologists have found onsen watermarks on objects dated from Japan’s Jomon period (10,000 years ago). The hot springs was not exclusive to ancient Japan. Holy ceremonies were performed at hot springs, according to Celtic tales...

UNCHANGED AND TREND / Masahiro Miwa

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

RENDEZVOUS WITH ONSEN

CHAPTER 2

MY ONSEN HISTORICALVIEW

CHAPTER 3

CHRONICLE OF TENZAN

YUYA IKKYU

WOMEN’S INNER BATH

MEN’S INNER BATH

OKUZASHIKI and OKUNOYU

KAZEDAYORI

YAMABOUSHI

CHAPTER 4

PLANNING and DETAIL DESIGN

ROCK GARDEN ONSEN

OUTDOOR BATH

KOTOHIKI KAIRO

RIRAKU

INNER BATH

HARUNONOYU

YUYA IKKYU

O’S RESIDENCE KARUIZAWAVILLA

NOBORIGUMO

KOTOHIKI KAIRO

VENT

UTASEYU / HITTING WATER

KOTOHIKI KAIRO

RIRAKU

YUGUCHI / SPOUT MOUTH

NEYU / LYING BATH

RIRAKU

CHAPTER 5

WORKS

YUDOKORO NOBORIGUMO

TOSAJI HARUNONOYU

YUYA KOTOHIKI KAIRO

HOTEL SUNVALLEY NASU AQUAVENUS

UBAKONOYU SHUMEIKAN

MINARA NATURAL ONSEN RIRAKU

KYOWA HEALTHY FOREST KARAMATSU ONSEN

PHOENIX SEA GAIA RESORT SHOSENKYU

DATA

EPILOGUE

People have enjoyed Onsen or hot spring bathing, long before written records were kept.Archaeologists have found onsen watermarks on objects dated from Japan’s Jomon period (10,000 years ago). The hot springs was not exclusive to ancient Japan. Holy ceremonies were performed at hot springs, according to Celtic tales.

In ancient Western Europe, Romans globalize the hot spring bathing, as far as Bass (England), Tria (Germany), Barden (Switzerland), and Carlsbard (Chechen). Roman emperors competed in building a grander Terme (bathhouse). As a result, restaurants,sports, education, medicine, and other cultural activities developed and flourished around the bathhouses.

In Japan, people believed in the Onsen water’s medicinal and spiritual healing power. But the design scape of the onsen remained simple, as an outdoor bath. Japanese felt that grandeur architecture did not fit well with its culture. They chose to bathe in the comfort of the ever changing nature.

In publishing this book, titled "Onsen", I hope l am able to show you, the true spirit of outdoor bathing, through the various design examples of bathhouses and onsen facilities.While working on the Phoenix Sea Gaia Resort Redevelopment, collaborating with US owners and architect Paul Ma, I was able to re-affirm my beliefs in the Onsen. I hope readers will find my interpretation to be a fresh way of enjoying hot spring bathing.