A Timeless Ryokan Where Architecture Meets Nature
Nestled along the banks of the Mitoku River in the heart of Misasa Onsen, Tottori Prefecture, Ryokan Ohashi (旅館大橋) stands as a magnificent example of early Showa-era Japanese hospitality architecture. Completed in 1932, this three-story wooden inn was built with a single-minded devotion to achieving the finest in traditional Japanese construction. Skilled shrine carpenters (miyadaiku) gathered rare and precious timber from across the region, crafting a building of extraordinary beauty that has withstood the passage of nearly a century. In 1997, the main building and four other structures within the inn were designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties by the Japanese government, making Ryokan Ohashi one of the few operating inns in the country where virtually the entire premises hold cultural property status.
Historical Background
Ryokan Ohashi began as a branch establishment of the Ohashi Ryokan originally located in the nearby city of Kurayoshi. When it was built in 1932, Misasa was not yet established as a fully developed hot spring resort town, and much of the surrounding area remained agricultural. The founders envisioned creating the ultimate expression of Japanese architectural beauty, sparing no expense in sourcing exceptional timbers that would be nearly impossible to obtain today.
During World War II, while many ryokan across Japan were repurposed as evacuation shelters or military hospitals, Ryokan Ohashi continued to operate as an inn. The postwar years brought economic hardship to the Misasa area, but the onset of Japan's rapid economic growth period around 1955 transformed the district into a popular tourist destination. Through these decades of change, Ryokan Ohashi preserved its original architectural character without major alterations, allowing it to reach the present day in a remarkably authentic state.
Designation as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property
On September 3, 1997, the main building of Ryokan Ohashi was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan (Registration No. 31-0018). The designation recognized the building's significance as a large-scale wooden Japanese-style inn from the early Showa period, noting its three-story timber construction with a tiled roof and a building footprint of 625 square meters. The elegant Japanese-style exterior was praised for conveying the history and traditions of Misasa Onsen to the present day.
In addition to the main building, four other structures on the premises received the same designation: the detached wing (Hanare), the west detached wing (Nishi-Hanare), the grand banquet hall building (Ohiroma-tō), and the arched drum bridge (Taiko-bashi). Together, these five registered properties encompass nearly the entire complex, making Ryokan Ohashi an exceptionally rare example of an active lodging facility that is almost entirely composed of cultural heritage structures.
Architectural Highlights
Shrine Carpenter Craftsmanship
The entire building was constructed by miyadaiku, master carpenters traditionally trained in the construction of shrines and temples. Their exceptional skill is evident throughout the inn, from the intricate ceiling designs to the carefully proportioned transom carvings (ranma) and the refined alcoves (tokonoma) in each guest room. The craftsmen deliberately ensured that no two rooms share the same design, incorporating playful variations in the use of timber species, ceiling patterns, and decorative details.
Named Rooms with Rare Timbers
Each guest room is named after the type of premium wood featured in its construction. The "Sakura" (Cherry) room showcases cherry wood pillars, while the "Take" (Bamboo) room incorporates bamboo elements. Other rooms feature pine, paulownia, and other prized species, each lending a distinct atmosphere and character to the space. These timbers, collected from throughout the region before construction, would be virtually unobtainable in today's market.
The Taiko-bashi Drum Bridge
One of the most intriguing features of the inn is the Taiko-bashi, or drum bridge, which serves as a covered corridor leading to the bathing facilities. Viewed from outside, the bridge describes an elegant upward curve, yet from inside, the walkway feels entirely flat—a clever optical illusion devised by the shrine carpenters. At night, soft lighting illuminates the bridge, creating a wonderfully atmospheric passageway between the guest quarters and the baths.
Historic Wavy Glass
Many of the original window panes in the building are hand-made glass from the early Showa period, displaying the characteristic gentle waviness and subtle distortions unique to pre-industrial glass production. These irreplaceable panes offer a visual texture that modern glass cannot replicate, adding another layer of historical charm to each room.
The Hot Springs of Ryokan Ohashi
Gankutsu no Yu (Cave Bath)
The signature bath of Ryokan Ohashi is the Gankutsu no Yu, a remarkable natural rock bath where hot spring water gushes directly from the ground beneath the bathers' feet. This type of bath, known as ashimoto jifun (underfoot natural gushing), is exceedingly rare even in a country as rich in hot springs as Japan. The bath consists of three pools at different levels, each fed by its own underground source. The lower and middle pools contain radium-rich radon springs, while the uppermost pool features a thorium spring—the only thorium hot spring in the entire Misasa Onsen district. In 1948, this thorium spring was recognized as having one of the highest concentrations of its kind in the world.
Seseragi no Yu (Open-Air Bath)
The Seseragi no Yu is an outdoor bath positioned alongside the Mitoku River, allowing guests to soak while listening to the gentle sound of flowing water. Adjacent to the open-air bath is a hormesis sauna (mist sauna) that fills the air with radon-infused steam. Misasa Onsen is internationally recognized for its exceptionally high radon concentration, and inhaling this mineral-rich mist is believed to stimulate cellular activity and boost the body's natural healing processes.
Ryokan Ohashi maintains five private hot spring sources, three of which are naturally gushing springs. All baths operate on a free-flowing (kakenagashi) system, ensuring that fresh mineral water continuously replenishes the pools without recirculation.
Culinary Experience
As a proud ryokan with a long-standing commitment to fine dining, Ryokan Ohashi offers creative kaiseki cuisine that showcases the seasonal bounty of the San'in region. Each dish is prepared with meticulous attention to presentation and delivered course by course to the guest room, ensuring that warm dishes arrive at perfect temperature. The menu changes with the seasons, featuring fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan, mountain vegetables from the surrounding highlands, and local specialties such as premium Tottori wagyu beef and, during winter months, prized matsuba crab. The inn's morning meal is equally memorable, centering on a signature dashimaki tamago (rolled egg omelet) prepared with locally sourced eggs.
Surrounding Attractions
Ryokan Ohashi is ideally situated for exploring the cultural and natural treasures of the Misasa area. Just a 10-minute drive away stands Mitokusan Sanbutsu-ji Temple, home to the National Treasure Nageiredo (Thrown-In Hall), a stunning wooden hall built into a sheer cliff face over 1,300 years ago. The pilgrimage hike to reach Nageiredo is famously described as one of the most challenging in Japan, traversing rugged mountain trails with chains and tree-root footholds.
Within the Misasa Onsen town itself, visitors can enjoy the riverside foot baths, the romantic Koitani Bridge with its wish-granting kajika frog statue, and the open-air Kawara no Yu riverside bath. The nearby city of Kurayoshi features a beautifully preserved district of white-walled storehouses (Shirakabe Dozo-gun), designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Further afield, the Tottori Sand Dunes and the Nashi-kko Kan pear museum offer additional day-trip possibilities.
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Q&A
- What makes Ryokan Ohashi a cultural property?
- Ryokan Ohashi has five structures registered as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan since 1997: the main building, the detached wing, the west detached wing, the grand banquet hall, and the Taiko-bashi drum bridge. Together, these cover nearly the entire complex, making it one of the few fully operational inns in Japan where virtually the whole premises hold cultural property status. The buildings are prized for their exceptional early Showa-era shrine-carpenter craftsmanship and well-preserved original condition.
- What is special about the hot springs at Ryokan Ohashi?
- The inn's Gankutsu no Yu (Cave Bath) features hot spring water that gushes naturally from beneath the bathing pools—a rare phenomenon known as ashimoto jifun. It includes three pools with different mineral compositions, including the only thorium hot spring in Misasa Onsen. The inn maintains five private sources, three of which are naturally gushing, and all baths are free-flowing without recirculation.
- How do I get to Ryokan Ohashi?
- From JR Kurayoshi Station on the San'in Main Line, take the Hinomaru Bus bound for Misasa Onsen (approximately 20 minutes) and alight at the Onsen Iriguchi stop, then walk about 5 minutes. Alternatively, by car, it is approximately 40 minutes from the Yubara IC on the Yonago Expressway. Ryokan Ohashi also offers a complimentary shuttle service from Kurayoshi Station by prior reservation.
- Are the guest rooms all different?
- Yes, every guest room at Ryokan Ohashi has a unique design. The shrine carpenters deliberately ensured that no two rooms share the same layout, ceiling pattern, or decorative details. Each room is named after the type of rare timber used in its construction—such as cherry, bamboo, or pine—giving every room its own distinctive character and atmosphere.
- What is there to see near Ryokan Ohashi?
- The most notable nearby attraction is the National Treasure Nageiredo at Mitokusan Sanbutsu-ji Temple, approximately 10 minutes away by car. Within Misasa Onsen, visitors can enjoy riverside foot baths, the Koitani Bridge, and the open-air Kawara no Yu. The historic Kurayoshi Shirakabe district of white-walled storehouses is about 20 minutes away by car. The area was also designated as a Japan Heritage site in 2015.
Basic Information
| Name | Ryokan Ohashi Main Building (旅館大橋本館) |
|---|---|
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Registration Date | September 3, 1997 |
| Year of Construction | 1932 (Showa 7) |
| Structure | Wooden, 3-story, tile-roofed; building area 625 m² |
| Address | 302 Misasa, Misasa-cho, Tohaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture |
| Access | Approx. 20 min by bus from JR Kurayoshi Station; free shuttle available by reservation |
| Hot Spring Type | Radium (radon) spring and thorium spring; free-flowing natural gushing sources |
| Check-in / Check-out | Check-in 15:00 / Check-out 10:00 |
| Official Website | https://www.o-hashi.net/ |
References
- 旅館大橋本館 – 文化遺産オンライン
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/191309
- 旅館大橋（三朝温泉） – 日本遺産ポータルサイト
- https://japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/culturalproperties/result/1046/
- 三朝温泉 旅館大橋の歴史 – HISTRIP
- https://www.histrip.jp/170402tottori-misasa-6/
- 旅館大橋｜公式サイト
- https://www.o-hashi.net/
- 旅館大橋 – 三朝温泉ポータルサイト
- https://misasaonsen.jp/stay/32/
Last verified: 2026.03.29