Three Baths Under One Roof
Kajikaen Large Bathhouse (河鹿園大浴場, Kajikaen Daiyokujō) is a single-story wooden bathhouse of the early Showa period (1926–1945) standing below Shazansō to the east at Kajikaen, a former restaurant inn in Mitakehonmachi, Ōme City, Tokyo, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 17, 2020.
The Kajikaen Large Bathhouse runs north to south under a Kirizuma-zukuri gabled roof of copper, with a building area of 94 square meters. The covered corridor meets it on the west side, so guests walked down from their rooms without going outdoors. It was extended in 1989.
Inside are 3 bathrooms of quite different character: the main bath in the southeast, a rock bath in the northeast and a smaller bath in the southwest. The Agency for Cultural Affairs sums it up as a bathhouse offering a range of moods.
Tile, Stone and Wood
The southeast bath centers on a round tub lined with tile. Large glass windows run along the south wall and wrap around to the east, so bathers could soak in the green and light of the valley. A round tub with no corners, set against windows on 2 sides, was a stylish choice for a resort bath of the early Showa years.
The northeast bath is built of river stones stacked into a grotto, a material that recalls the Tama River just below and feels nothing like the tiled bath. The southwest room has a wooden tub.
Three tub materials, three moods, and guests could choose among them. That is what makes the Kajikaen Large Bathhouse worth seeing.
Why the Bathhouse Was Registered
The Kajikaen Large Bathhouse was registered as a model of design, number 13-0445. What earned the listing is the plan: three baths of different character fitted into one building on a narrow ledge of the cliff.
Since Kajikaen stopped operating as an inn in 2017, the bathhouse no longer fills with water. According to the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual database, it has been used as a venue for contemporary art since the buildings reopened as a museum.
Visiting the Bathhouse
The Kajikaen Large Bathhouse may be open during exhibition periods, when Kajikaen operates as a museum, but whether it is used as a gallery depends on the exhibition. If the bathhouse is the reason for your visit, check the current show first.
For the round tub, stand in the southeast corner facing the windows to take in both the curve of the tub and the sweep of glass. Ask at reception about photography.
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Q&A
- When was the Kajikaen Large Bathhouse built?
- It is a single-story wooden bathhouse from the early Showa period (1926–1945), extended in 1989.
- What baths are inside the Kajikaen Large Bathhouse?
- A main bath with a round tiled tub in the southeast, a rock bath of stacked river stones in the northeast, and a smaller bath with a wooden tub in the southwest.
- Why is the Kajikaen Large Bathhouse a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered on August 17, 2020, as a model of design, noted for combining baths of different character in one building.
- Can I bathe at the Kajikaen Large Bathhouse?
- No. Kajikaen closed as an inn in 2017, and the bathhouse has since been used as an exhibition space for contemporary art.
- Can visitors see inside the Kajikaen Large Bathhouse?
- It may be open during exhibition periods (11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays). Whether it serves as a gallery depends on the exhibition.
Basic Information
| Name | Kajikaen Large Bathhouse (河鹿園大浴場) |
|---|---|
| Location | 335 Mitakehonmachi, Ome City, Tokyo |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered on August 17, 2020 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 1-story wooden building, copper-plate roof, building area 94 square meters |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | Open during exhibition periods (11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database of Cultural Properties: Kajikaen Large Bathhouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00013367
- Cultural Heritage Online: Kajikaen Large Bathhouse
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/380344
- Ome City: Cultural Properties of Ome (Registered Tangible Cultural Properties)
- https://www.city.ome.tokyo.jp/site/provincial-history-museum/3143.html
- Japan Tourism Agency Multilingual Commentary Database: Kajikaen
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/R3-00536.html
- Ome Tourism Guide: Ryokan Building Shitsurai Art Museum Kajikaen
- https://www.omekanko.gr.jp/spot/11301/
Last verified: 2026.09.23
