A Three-Storey Inn at Shimobe Onsen
The Daiichikan (大市館) is a three-storey timber inn building of around 1933 in the centre of Shimobe Onsen, Minobu Town, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on May 10, 2018 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a three-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 450 square metres; registration number 19-136. It is owned by 株式会社裕貴屋.
An Inn of a Hot-Spring Town
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Daiichikan faces east in the centre of Shimobe Onsen, at the foot of the Shinsen Bridge over the Shimobe River. Yamanashi Prefecture describes it as an inn building that adds character to the streetscape of an old hot-spring town.
The ground floor held a dining room, and the second and third floors 12 guest rooms of various sizes (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Daiichikan was registered as a structure contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that, standing by the Shinsen Bridge, it adds charm to the hot-spring town. Yamanashi Prefecture points to its modern Japanese-style exterior, including the hip-and-gable porch at the entrance.
What to Look For
The building has three timber storeys under a hip-and-gable pantiled roof, with a hip-and-gable entrance at the north end of the front. The guest-room windows have railings with upturned ends (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
No official information on whether the inn is operating or open to visitors has been found. The exterior can be seen from the street; please do not disturb the owner.
The address is 48 Shimobe, Minobu Town.
Q&A
- When was the Daiichikan built?
- Around 1933 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is the structure of the Daiichikan?
- Three timber storeys under a hip-and-gable pantiled roof, with a building area of 450 square metres (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What should I look for?
- The hip-and-gable entrance and the window railings with upturned ends (Agency for Cultural Affairs; Yamanashi Prefecture).
- Where is the Daiichikan?
- In the centre of Shimobe Onsen, at the foot of the Shinsen Bridge over the Shimobe River (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Daiichikan registered?
- On May 10, 2018.
Basic Information
| Name | Daiichikan (大市館) |
|---|---|
| Location | 48 Shimobe, Minobu Town, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2018/05/10 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Three-storey timber building, tiled roof, building area 450 square metres |
| Owner | 株式会社裕貴屋 |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the street (no public opening announced) |
References
- Daiichikan (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012360
- Cultural Council recommendation on registered properties (Yamanashi Prefecture, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp/documents/92174/300309kisyasiryou.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.14