Introduction
Chapter 1: Hot springs as tojiba (places for recuperation)
Chapter 2: Hot springs in literary works
Chapter 3: Overflowing tidbits about hot springs
Epilogue/References
Japanese

Chapter 3: Overflowing tidbits about hot springs

Part 3 introduces tidbits and materials about hot springs.

Joshu Hoshi Onsen

Worship of hot springs and folklore about opening hot springs

Hot springs, which naturally gush out from underground and are said to be effective against various diseases, have long been believed to have mysterious powers.
Beliefs remain in Yunomine Onsen, which was the Yugoriba (cleansing place) for the Kumano pilgrimage, Yudonosan, which Matsuo Basho wrote about, and Izusan Shrine, which has the source of Hashiriyu. There are also onsen temples and Yakushido halls dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, as well as onsen shrines dedicated to the gods of the land, which have been built beside springs and baths.
Regarding discovering and opening hot springs, there are some episodes in myth such as Izumonokuni Fudoki. In addition, legends of openings of hot springs by figures such as Gyoki (670-749) and anecdotes related to animals, such as the folklore of the egret of Gero Onsen (Yu no machi Gero [特234-392]) have been handed down to the present.

7) MIZUTANI Yumihiko, Eiri joruri shi Gekan, the last volume, published by Mizutani bunko, 1916. [768.4-Mi97ウ]

An illustration of “Oguri hangan”

This book summarizes the history of Eiri Joruri in three volumes: Jokan (the first), Chukan (middle), and Gekan (the last).
The picture on the right is from "Oguri hangan" in the Gekan. Legendary character OGURI hangan is killed by poisoned sake. He is brought back to life by the mercy of Enma Daio, the great King of Hell, yet afflicted with gakiyami, an incurable disease that rots the body and causes insatiable hunger. As a result of a toji at the hot spring in Kumano Hongu Shrine, he regains his original human form and gets revenge. It is said that the hot spring where this toji was done is Yunomine Onsen.

Hot spring banzuke (ranking list of hot springs)

On the model of the sumo banzuke, people have actively listed the rankings of various things in the east and the west since the Edo period. One of those examples is a hot spring banzuke. Encouraged by the spread of hot springs as places for recuperation in the society of the Edo period, various hot spring banzuke were made. The top grade in the banzuke in the Edo period was Ozeki, but after the Meiji period, Yokozuna was added at the top.

“Shokoku onsen kan”

8) Kinko Oobanzuke 70 Yorui, edited by Tokyo Banzuke Chosakai, published by Bunsankan Shoten, 1923. [109-274]

“Zenkoku onsen banzuke”

As the preface describes that “you can discuss things based on this book, or you can acquire knowledge of things and persons by reading this book,” this is a book that lists various things in banzuke. “Zenkoku onsen banzuke” (A hot spring banzuke across Japan) on the right ranks Ikaho Onsen in Gunma Prefecture and Shiobara Onsen in Tochigi Prefecture as Yokozuna. Note, however, that although they are supposed to be included in the ranking, some hot springs in the middle of this banzuke are assigned to three roles from the operations side of sumo: torishimari (a tournament manager – not used now), gyoji (a sumo referee) and kanjinmoto (a promoter of a sumo tour).

Various guidebooks on hot springs

Various guidebooks on hot springs have been published since tojiba and hot spring trips became widely popular. There is a great variety of forms: for example, some are published by tourist associations of hot spring areas, some are compiled on a regional basis, while others refer to hot springs in the column of travel guides.
We can find some descriptions of hot springs and accommodations in two books published in the Edo period: Ryoko yojinshu written by YASUMI Roan [209-134] and Azumakoakindokagami edited by KO Ryozan [181-39].
In the Taisho period, hot spring guidebooks which cover hot springs throughout Japan came out, such as Zenkoku no onsen annai edited by Zenkoku Meisho Annaisha [384-246].

This hot spring map in the San’in region shows the historical hot spring resort Tamatsukuri Onsen in Shimane Prefecture.

9) Onsen annai, edited and published by Tetsudoin, 1920. [389-28]

In Japan, railway construction as an advanced form of public transportation started in the Meiji period, and places of scenic beauty between mountains and tourist spots came to be widely popular. In that context, railway lines bound for hot spring areas, leading tourist resorts, sprang up all over Japan.
This book was published to help with planning and estimating travel costs when people wanted to make a trip to hot spring areas along railway lines administrated by the Cabinet Railway Authority of the time. The beginning part of each line introduces the characteristics of hot spring areas along that line, and tips for fun in those areas.

Hot springs and Japanese paintings

Various illustrated whole maps of each hot spring area, along with guidebooks on hot springs, have been created all over Japan since the Edo period. Arimayamaonsenko-kagami [854-109], Shichito no shiori (see Part 1) and others are equivalent to today’s sightseeing brochures of hot spring resorts in Japan in view of their detailed and accurate information.
Many ukiyo-e woodblock prints in the Edo period featured hot springs and recuperation there.
In and after the Meiji period, some artists chose hot springs as the favorable subject matter of their paintings. Besides Nakazawa Hiromitsu (see Part 2), IMAMURA Shiko (1880-1916), a Japanese-style artist, and KABURAKI Kiyokata (1878-1972), who is known for bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), painted hot springs in mountain ravines.

Yu no yado painted by Imamura Shiko

10) MEGATA Morikage, Kazan onsen ki [午-91]

Ikaho onsen zu

In this book, volcanoes, which are inseparable from hot springs, and onsen in various provinces are desribed. From the map of Ikaho Onsen on the right, it can be seen that the village developed around the hot springs.
It is said that hot springs in mountainous areas and at the foot of mountains have developed to the present day thanks to a combination of the popularity of leisure activities such as mountain climbing and skiing and the development of railways (HAYASHI Giichiro, Honpo kazan onsen to shuraku no hattatsu. [625-289]).

11) Ichiyosai Toyokuni, Tokaidomeishofukei. [寄別8-3-1-4]

Tokaido Hakone Toji

This is one of a series of ukiyo-e woodblock prints, whose subject was taken from the visit to Kyoto in 1863 of TOKUGAWA Iemochi, the 14th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. More than 20 publishers appointed 16 artists to publish the series, containing a variety of post-station towns and notable sites on the Tokaido, from Nihonbashi, Tokyo, to Kyoto. Tokaido Hakone Toji is a work of UTAGAWA Kunisada Ⅱ (1823-1880). A mountain scene of Hakone is depicted behind the woman staying at a hot spring, which is suggestive of hot-spring recuperation at the seven hot springs in Hakone.

Letters about hot springs

In the Meiji and Taisho periods, when letters were common to keep in touch with people at a distance, letters were also sent to correspond with acquaintances and hot spring inns. At the time, there were many examples of letters and calligraphy whose subjects were hot springs, indicating that they were widespread.

An example of inviting an acquaintance to toji at Ikaho Onsen

12) 3tai joshi tegamibun: shuji ken’yo, written and edited by SATO Baien, published by Hattoribunkido, 1925. [特105-869]

An example of an inquiry about staying at a hot spring inn

This is a collection of sample letters for women, with examples of replies for things like summer greetings. The example sentence on the right, entitled "Onsenyado ni toiawasu” (Inquiry to a hot spring inn), is an example of a request for 2 six tatami-mat rooms with three people, asking for availability and accommodation costs.
It is difficult to read hentaigana even by using the "Kana shirabe" at the beginning of the volume. However, the titles of the example sentences and easy-to-read examples written in katakana also can show us the atmosphere of life in those days.

Connections born from the entertainment of hot springs

As the use of hot springs for recreation and sightseeing became more widespread, people could enjoy not only the surrounding nature but also entertainment facilities which were often attached to them. Takarazuka shokatai (the predecessor of the Takarazuka Revue) began to perform at Takarazuka Shin Onsen for the entertainment of bathers, and in 1915, the following year, a library was established in Takarazuka Shin Onsen. The library enhanced its collection and was developed as the Takarazuka Bungei Library in 1932. It is now known as the External Link Bottom Ikeda Bunko Library. The Ikeda Bunko Library has a comprehensive collection of materials related to the Takarazuka Revue and films.

Takarazuka Onsen annai, which describes the origin of the hot spring, said to have opened in the Kamakura period

13) Takarazuka nenkan: fu Takarazuka kagekidan shashinshu, edited and published by the Takarazuka Revue, 1942. [特239-255]

A picture of Takarazuka Bungei Library

This book introduces the Takarazuka Grand Theater and the botanical garden and other facilities that existed in Takarazuka at that time, along with photos. In addition, records of business trips and performances of the Takarazuka Revue are compiled as a yearbook. The Takarazuka Bungei Library, pictured on the right, is described as no other library collecting more records about theater than it. It can be read that it actively collected not only books but also a wide range of materials related to theater, including records and advertising materials.

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Epilogue/References