A Western-Fronted Bathhouse in Johana
The Katsurayu Bathhouse (桂湯) is a public bathhouse of around 1930 in Johana, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 10, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber building with tile and metal roofs, covering 155 square metres, altered in 1962, 1966 and 1977; registration number 16-147.
Three Wings on a Long, Narrow Plot
Katsurayu is a public bathhouse on a long, narrow plot in the centre of the former town of Johana, with the changing-room wing, bathing wing and living quarters lined up from east to west (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The two-storey timber changing-room wing has a copper-clad front with a cornice between the floors and a small gable at the eaves (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Separate entrances for men and women are gathered in a central opening with its upper corners cut off.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape, a former bathhouse whose Western-style front brightens the temple town.
What to Look For
Look for the copper-clad front, the cornice and the paired entrances at the centre (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The Agency describes it as a former bathhouse, and no official information on its present use or interior access was found.
Q&A
- When was Katsurayu built?
- Around 1930 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of building is Katsurayu?
- A former public bathhouse in three wings.
- What should I look for?
- The copper-clad Western-style front and the paired entrances.
- How is Johana read?
- Jo-ha-na, according to the Japan Post postcode data.
- When was the Katsurayu Bathhouse registered?
- On September 10, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Katsurayu Bathhouse (桂湯) |
|---|---|
| Location | 590 Daikumachi and others, Johana, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2019/09/10 (Reiwa 1) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey timber, tile and metal roofs, 155 m² |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency database |
| Public Access | Present use not confirmed |
References
- Katsurayu Bathhouse (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012890
Last verified: 2026.10.17