I stayed at Mukaitaki in Aizu Higashiyama Onsen.

During the Edo period, Kitsuneyu once stood here. Kitsuneyu was a resort for the Aizu clan, and in 1873 it was inherited as Ryokan Mukaitaki, which underwent a major renovation in 1935 and continues to exist today. Mukaitaki is a precious historic inn that conveys that atmosphere.

This historic inn stands near the entrance to the hot spring town, and you can enjoy its stately construction and the wonderful architectural style surrounding a beautiful garden when you enter the building. The building has not undergone any major renovations since its major renovation in 1931, and has been maintained to a minimum extent, retaining the architectural style of the Meiji to early Showa periods to this day.

In recognition of its value as a cultural asset, it was registered as the first tangible cultural property when the cultural property registration system was established in 1996 in Japan. Aizuwakamatsu was the center of the Boshin War, but the impact on Mukaitaki was minor, and it is a miracle that it has survived to this day. The building has also sustained little damage from repeated earthquakes, and the fact that it can still be enjoyed today shows the high level of technology at the time.

All rooms and buildings are registered cultural properties, and the rooms that convey the atmosphere of the time are simply beautiful. All meals are served in the rooms, and in recent years, in-room dining, which requires a long route, has been on the decline, but I think Mukaitaki's spirit of maintaining in-room dining is wonderful. The meals are local cuisine, focusing on Aizu specialties. The boiled carp, which has been passed down since the Edo period, is soft and very filling. I got carried away and ordered two special meat dishes, which were also delicious and left me full.

The hot spring quality of Aizu Higashiyama Onsen is a sulfate/chloride hot spring, and the water is mildly alkaline. The Kitsuneyu bath, which is named after the Aizu clan's designated health resort, is hot and refreshing, while the Sarunoyu bath has a moderate temperature so you can enjoy a leisurely bath. Although the source temperature is high, the water is adjusted by the length of the pipes, and it is a free-flowing spring without heating or adding water.

A historic inn where members of the imperial family, Hirobumi Ito, and Hideyo Noguchi and others stayed. There are many historic inns, but it seems that there are fewer and fewer inns that preserve the atmosphere of the time with minimal maintenance. The staff who cooperated with the photography and friendly guided us around the inn also had a strong desire to weave a wonderful cultural heritage.

A wonderful inn that should be preserved for future generations. I hope everyone will visit it.

■Hot spring details
Sodium-calcium sulfate-chloride hot spring
pH 7.7
Direct flow from the source

■Aizu Higashiyama Onsen Mukaitaki
https://www.mukaitaki.com/

* Some of the information in the video is based on information collected online.
* Permission has been granted to film the hot spring.
* Normally video/photo shooting inside bath is not allowed.

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