Lobby

Our lobby, where we’ll greet you and see you off, is adorned with Mingei style (folk art) furniture, and indirectly lit to create a soft and inviting atmosphere which will either start to or continue relieving the tiredness and stress of your travels.

Souvenir Corner

From handkerchiefs, and key chains to traditional shop curtains, uniquely designed dolls and folk art accessories our souvenir corner is full of original gift ideas. We also have snacks, Japanese sake and other locally produced food items. Why not buy something to remind you of your time here or share with your loved ones at home?

Kawase Hasui

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) was a prominent modern Japanese woodblock (ukiyoe) artist. Along with the likes Ito Shinsui and others he was part of new wave of woodblock art known as shin-hanga during the Showa and Taisho Eras. His woodblock prints depict nostalgic scenes of travel around Japan combined with scenic beauty. In the shin-hanga world he is mentioned in the same breath as other legends such as Katsushika Hokusai, and Utagawa Hiroshige. Natural themes such as snow, the moon, flowers and rain impart a deep emotional feeling in his works which is part of their appeal and a reason why they are very highly regarded outside of Japan as well. The two prints displayed above are Yuyado no Asa made in 1946 and one of his earlier works Shinyu no Aki made in 1918. Both works depict his time at Shimofujiya. Take a stroll in the halls of Shimofujiya and you’ll see a print of Yuyado no Asa. And also have a look in the lobby for a picture of the original Shimofujiya building. It’s from the 3rd floor of this building where Yuyado no Asa was inspired.

Yamaoka Tesshu

In the Meiji Period (1867-1912) travel to Shimofujiya was by no means easy as access by foot and by horse were the only ways to get here. One customer who had a particular affinity for Shimofujiya was none other than Yamaoka Tesshu who history remembers as a hero of the Bakumatsu Period (1853-1867) and the driving force behind the bloodless surrender of Edo Castle to imperial forces which effectively started the Meiji Restoration. A visitor to Shimofujiya several times over during his work as a prefectural councilor in Ibaraki Prefecture, he was a fond admirer of our hot springs. Primarily heralded as a vassal to the shogunate, a politician, a thinker, a swordsman, and a writer. He was also known as a master of Zen art, and along with his name Yamaoka Tesshu, he wrote under the penname Ichiraku Hitoshi, and was commonly known as Testutaro, and was one of the famous three with the character shu in his name during the Bakumatsu Period.

Later in his life he served as a private teacher to the Meiji Emperor, and enjoyed an extremely high status in society. In 1875, now a chamberlain to the Meiji Emperor, while traveling with the last shogun’s brother Tokugawa Akitake to his estate it was decided that they would accompany the Meiji Emperor to view cherry blossoms. As at the time Japan had opened its borders to the world, accepting and incorporating Western ideas into Japanese society was en vogue, and Yamaoka struck upon the idea to pair Western bread with a beloved Japanese sweet (sweet red bean paste). The snack became known as anpan, symbolic of having a Japanese spirit mixed Western learning and, when using his role as chamberlain, Yamaoka presented it to the Meiji Emperor, the Emperor became instantly infatuated with it. From then on the Meiji Emperor was regularly presented with anpan. Even to this day anpan is a Japanese snack staple, and every April 4th is known as anpan day just as the Meiji Emperor decided over 100 years ago.

Have a peek in the main dining room adjacent to the lobby to see two original hanging scrolls made by Yamaoka Tesshu himself.