About the Masuya Ryokan East Wing
The Masuya Ryokan East Wing (ますや旅館東館, Masuya Ryokan Higashikan) is a three-storey timber guest wing built in the early Meiji period in Tazawa Onsen, Aoki Village, Nagano Prefecture; it is described as the oldest building of the inn and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2005.
It stands to the south-east of the Main Building and covers a building area of 89 m². On a compact plan of 5 ken by 3.5 ken it rises three storeys under a hip-and-gable Irimoya-zukuri roof of pantiles. The ground floor served as storage and the upper two floors hold guest rooms, each ringed by a veranda, with pent roofs projecting over the first and second storeys as well.
Although it is the oldest structure on the site, the East Wing is still in use as guest accommodation. The second floor has a suite of two 8-mat rooms, and the third floor holds the Tōson Room, which the inn identifies as the room where Shimazaki Tōson stayed.
Why the Masuya Ryokan East Wing Was Registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs identifies the Masuya Ryokan East Wing as the oldest of the inn's buildings and calls its exterior distinctive. It gives two reasons: the roof has a gentle upward curve, and the verandas on the second and third floors are carried outward on cantilevered brackets.
These brackets, udeki in Japanese, are short timbers projecting sideways from the posts to take the weight of verandas and eaves. At the East Wing they push each upper veranda beyond the wall line, so the building appears to widen as it rises despite its small footprint. Combined with the curved roof, they give a tall, narrow building an unexpectedly light profile.
Like its neighbours, the East Wing was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. Across the street to the south stands the East Storehouse, and the Agency credits the East Wing, the Storehouse and the East Storehouse together with setting the character of the spa town's main street. The East Wing is both the inn's oldest block and one of the faces the street is known by.
What to Look For at the Masuya Ryokan East Wing
Start in the lane and look up at the eaves of the Masuya Ryokan East Wing. Beneath the second- and third-floor verandas, brackets run at regular intervals, holding up the veranda boards. Because the pent roofs step out at each level, the front is crossed by several strong horizontal lines.
Then follow the roof to its corners. The eaves lift slightly at the ends, and comparing them with the roofs of the Main Building and New Wing makes the softer line of the East Wing easy to spot.
For guests, the heart of the East Wing is the third-floor Tōson Room. The inn describes it as two connected 8-mat rooms whose wooden fittings and furnishings have been kept much as they were. The windows open onto mountain ridges in the direction of Yunomaru Plateau and Mount Asama, the kind of outlook Tōson praised in his sketches. The second-floor suite involves fewer stairs, and the inn recommends it for older guests.
Visiting the Masuya Ryokan East Wing
Only overnight guests can see inside the Masuya Ryokan East Wing. The inn does not accept day-bathing or sightseeing visitors. The Tōson Room can be booked as a guest room; the inn lists it for 2 to 4 people, with a toilet but no bath.
The exterior is visible from the lane through Tazawa Onsen. Since the East Wing stands close to the street, the brackets and stacked eaves are easy to see without going further. Please do not enter the grounds or entrance. Directions and booking conditions are on the Masuya Ryokan page.
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Q&A
- Is the Masuya Ryokan East Wing the oldest building at the inn?
- Yes. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the Masuya Ryokan East Wing as the oldest of the inn's facilities and dates it to the early Meiji period.
- Can I stay in the Tōson Room in the Masuya Ryokan East Wing?
- Yes. The inn offers the third-floor Tōson Room in the Masuya Ryokan East Wing as a guest room of two connected 8-mat rooms for 2 to 4 people, with a toilet but no bath.
- What is distinctive about the Masuya Ryokan East Wing's exterior?
- Its roof has an upward curve at the eaves, and its second- and third-floor verandas are carried outward on cantilevered brackets. The Agency cites both features in calling the Masuya Ryokan East Wing distinctive.
- Can I visit the Masuya Ryokan East Wing without staying overnight?
- The interior is for overnight guests only, and Masuya Ryokan does not accept day bathers. The exterior of the East Wing can be seen from the lane.
- How big is the Masuya Ryokan East Wing?
- The Masuya Ryokan East Wing is a three-storey timber building with a building area of 89 m², measuring 5 ken by 3.5 ken.
Basic Information
| Name | Masuya Ryokan East Wing |
|---|---|
| Location | 2686 Tazawa, Aoki Village, Chiisagata County, Nagano Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2005 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 89 m², 5 ken by 3.5 ken |
| Owner | Masuya Ryokan Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Interior open to overnight guests only (no day bathing); exterior visible from the street |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: ますや旅館東館
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004804
- Cultural Heritage Online: ますや旅館東館
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/117684
- Masuya Ryokan official site: Rooms and Facilities
- https://www.masuya-1ban.com/facilities.php
- Masuya Ryokan official site: FAQ
- https://www.masuya-1ban.com/faq.php
Last verified: 2026.09.26
