Arisugawa-Sanso

Photo:Arisugawa-Sanso Photo:Arisugawa-Sanso Photo:Arisugawa-Sanso Photo:Arisugawa-Sanso Photo:Arisugawa-Sanso Photo:Arisugawa-Sanso Photo:Arisugawa-Sanso Photo:Arisugawa-Sanso

Slip away to Arisugawa-Sanso

Passing through a corridor that connects to a mountainous garden, you will see a secluded dim light that seemingly beckons you to a secret hideout.
Surrounded by trees that are hundreds of years old you will find a detached wooden cottage, "Arisugawa-Sanso".

This cottage was ordered to be built for the Emperor, who was planning to visit the area, in the early part of the Meiji period (late 1800s). Constructed without the use of nails, the cottage took many years to complete.
Here within the peaceful atmosphere of this century-year-old hideaway you will find that time dissipates slowly.

At night the cottage serves as a lounge bar, offering a wide selection of fine wines.
Here you can add cherished moments to a trip full of memories that can be experienced nowhere else.

Prince Arisugawa Taruhito

Prince Arisugawa Taruhito (1835-1895) was a prince of the Arisugawa-no-miya family, or one of the four sinno-ke (Imperial prince families). He led a sonno-joi group (supporters of a doctrine that revered Imperial rule) at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji Restoration, he contributed to the establishment of the Japanese navy and army, holding high-ranking posts such as Army General.
The Arisugawa-Sanso was used by the Arisugawa-no-miya family and Komatsu-no-miya family when they stayed at Yamashiro.
Though the cottage has been renovated, the look and atmosphere of the original structure remains intact. The cottage was named in honor of Prince Taruhito, who dearly loved the Araya hot spring.

The exchanges between Prince Taruhito and Araya are described in the "Taruhito Sinno Nikki" (Prince Taruhito’s Diary). His calligraphic work, "江山清趣" (kozan-no-seishu, meaning "scenic beauty of rivers and mountains"), which he personally drew during a visit in the 22nd year of the Meiji period (1889), is still treasured by the hotel.

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