- Hyoe Koyokaku at the beginning of the Meiji (Hyoe Koyokaku in 1880s) Period
- The building at the far leｆt in the picture was the main building of Hyoe Koyokaku of those days, which was located in front of Ni-no-Yu ( red color hot spring bath). The building at the far right was Hyoe Koyokaku's resort villa, which became the main building of present Hyoe Koyokaku.
You see some 3-story wooden structures line up along the streets in Arima resort. In the Edo Period, most of inns were 3-storied while 3-story structures were rarely seen in Kyoto and Osaka. An interesting description about a 3-story wooden structure in Arima resort can be seen in a literature during the Edo Period (1827). You can imagine vivid atmosphere of hot spring resort of those days.
- Manager holding a lantern of Hyoe
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Manager holding a lantern of Hyoe
In early days, all baths in Arima resort were put together and filled with hot spring water from one facet. They called the baths facing south as “Ichi-no-Yu” means No.1, the ones facing north “Ni-no-Yu” means No.2. Hyoe had its bath in the center of other “Ni-no-Yu” baths. Each bath was screened with curtains of each inn. Female attendants from each inn worked near their bath to make sure that their guests could enjoy leisurely soaking in hot spring bath. An attendant from “Hyoe” was always named Miya. You can feel the atmosphere of those days on January 2nd when some young geisha play a role of attendants.
Excerpt from "Settu Meisho zukai" Kansei 10 (1798AD)
- Picture around 1910
It is said in old days when electric power was not available, votive candles for “Ichi-no-Yu” were supplied by “Gosho-no-bo” as well as “Ni-no-Yu” by “Hyoe”. “Gosho-no-bo” literally means Emperor’s lodging while “Hyoe” means lodging of Emperor’s guards. Once in 1816, an owner of “Hyoe” sent some salt which was extracted by distillation to a chief doctor of other clan.
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- Lounge of 1910s
- Very modern chandelier
- Guestroom
- Very expansive 10-tatami-mat room with authentic tokonoma, a Japanese alcove A passage in an old literature described a housewife who stayed at “Hyoe” to enjoy hot spring bath with her doctors and servants in a group of 15 people. What a boisterous gathering in a 10-tatami-mat room!