So... even though this story is about a hotel some 13 years (or 12, if you listen to some reports) YOUNGER than the hot-spring Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan hotel, let's learn about how the Hōshi Ryokan came to be.
It's 718 AD, and Hōshi Garyo was a Buddhist monk who was told by his teacher to build a hotel. Now, 1,295 years later, the Hōshi Ryokan remains open, busy, and the world's second-oldest existent hotel (and spa) located in Komatsu-shi (City of Komatsu) in Ishikawa-ken, Japan.
Now that's dedication even the Buddha would be impressed by.
According to records, the Hōshi Ryokan (Hōshi is the family name and 'Ryokan' means 'traditional Japanese-style inn') has been owned and run by the Hōshi family for 46 generations.
Just think about that for a moment. England was not yet even controlled by the Vikings - it was the Franks, and the fall of the Roman Empire was still making the headlines of whatever it was that passed for social media (I believed that news traveled by true social means - word of mouth).
According to family lore, Daishi Taicho (surname first), a well-respected Buddhist teacher in the area, had climbed up to the top of Mount Hakusan. earning himself a deserved sleep, he says (probably in delirium) that the god of the mountain came to him in his dreams and said:
"Lying 20-24 kilometers from the base of the mountain is a village called Awazu. There, you'll find an underground hot spring with wondrous restorative powers that Yakushi Nyorai (the Physician of Souls) has bestowed upon it. The people of the village, however, do not known of this good fortune. Descend the mountain and head to Awazu. With the people of the village unearth the hot spring-it will serve them forever."
There are many interesting things one can take from this. To me, the one thing that stood out the most was that this Buddhist teacher still believed in the shinto religion of nature- hence the god of the mountain. To me this shows that disciples of Buddha were not trying to supplant the dominant shinto religion, but seemed to be in harmony with it, utilizing the philosophies of Buddha to add to a better way of life.
I think that's pretty cool.
Anyhow, the next morning, having remembered all the details of the dream (I have had maybe 10 dreams in my life that I remember, so you'll forgive me if I am a tad jealous of a dead man), Daishi traveled down to Awazu, found the previously hidden underground hot springs with the healing powers, found some locals who were sick, had them bathe in the waters - and presto! - instant karma, or rather, they were healed.
Now... I am betting that holy man or not, this guy probably hired a few locals to dig and find the hot springs for him. As for curing the sick... well, I'm not a believer in such things, but then again, I've not been sick and required any major healing, so who the heck knows? I'm not one to trample upon someone's beliefs. If it makes you happy to be happy, then be happy.
I would be interested to know the chemical breakdown of the waters at this spa, especially if some mountain god is telling us that it's got healing powers. Restorative powers for the weary traveler - sure. Curing diabetes or brain cancer - I doubt it. Trample, trample, trample.
Now, because the Buddhist teacher was busy teaching about Buddhism, which is what a Buddhist teacher should teach about :)- Daishi asked his Buddhist disciple, Hōshi, to build a hotel and start a spa business.
Okay... I'm not sure about this whole 'business' stuff, because I thought the Buddhists would be interested in helping heal people for free... or maybe that's why the waters are free, but to spend the night (and thus be able to use the spa), travelers would have to pay.
It still sounds kind of shady to me. Then again, a Buddhist has gotta eat, because praying to Buddha doesn't really put food in the belly.
And... since Hōshi was under order to build the hotel on behalf of Daishi and his Buddhist temple (?), and Hōshi also appears to have been a follower of Daishi, doesn't the hotel belong to the Buddhist folks, and NOT to the Hōshi family?
Not that I want to stir up trouble or anything, as I am sure that squatters rights over the past 1,295 years have essentially made the place a piece of Hōshi property, but I would assume that unless it was given outright to the Hōshi family 1200 years ago, the Buddhist priest or the temple to which he was affiliated with could have put a claim on it.
I'm just sayin', is all.
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| Hot springs spa bath at Hōshi Ryokan in winter courtesy of Akiyoshi's Room |
Okay, I'm making a social commentary on the rights of Japanese families and their heirs - a first-born male.
The Hōshi Ryokan has two indoor spas and two out door spas, each separated for male and female use, as I suppose no Japanese man wants to heal himself in water full of female health issues.
Still, at about $580 a night's stay, I can assume I would be cured of pain in my hip from carrying all that money around in my wallet.
According to the hotel, back in the old days, the sick would bath in hot springs for three seven-day cycles.
Well. That explains the need for a hotel, doesn't it?
That first cycle of seven days sort of loosens the disease, while the second cycle actually cures them, and the third cycle makes them more resistant to fight off further medical conditions.
According to the hotel, nowadays the waters - both inside and outside - will help cure rheumatism and chronic skin diseases.
Anyhow, there are four main buildings at the Hōshi Ryokan - each one designated after on of the four seasons: Shinshun no Yakata (early spring building), Haru no Yakata (spring building), Natsu no Yakata (summer building) and Aki no Yakata (autumn building), with each guest room having a haiku written in it that defines the season of the building they are staying in.
And by the way... it is the the second-oldest CONTINUOUSLY run hotel, not CONTINUALLY run hotel. Apparently the difference is that continually can imply some interruptions. My wife the grammar bitch pointed that out for me, sparing me from possible embarrassment, although she prefers the term 'Grammar Queen'.
And, since you are all patiently awaiting it, here's a joke I first read in an old Richie Rich and Jackie Jokers comic book back about 40 years ago: What's the definition of a hotel? It's a place where one pays good dollars for poor quarters.
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
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