🗺️ Katakura-kan片倉館

From the Meiji era to the Taisho era, the Katakura Group, which rose to prominence in the silk industry in the Suwa region, built facilities in the early Showa period to create a social space for local residents. This facility consists of two buildings: the hall and the hot spring bathhouse. Designed by Matsunosuke Moriyama, a graduate of the architecture department at Tokyo Imperial University (now Tokyo University), the architectural style draws from Gothic Revival and Romantic Revival styles that developed in the United States and other places around 1900 to 1930. Windows, gables, and reliefs cleverly incorporate various styles into every detail. The large bath, known as the "Thousand-Person Bath," is spacious enough to accommodate over a hundred people at once, with the male and female bathing areas having the same partition structure. Uniquely, the bath allows for standing while soaking, with a depth of 1.1 meters. The bottom of the large bath is paved with pebbles, providing a foot massage effect. The interior exudes a romantic atmosphere, with walls adorned with sculptures and stained glass decorations. Additionally, visitors can tour the interior of the hall, which has never been opened to the public until now. Guided by an interpreter, guests can explore each room preserved in its original state, along with precious decorations and furnishings.

Visit the hall (including a guided tour, approximately 45 minutes) must be reserved by 5 PM the day before. On the 2nd floor of the bathhouse, there is a lounge where you can enjoy a distant view of Lake Suwa from the terrace. Additionally, there are paid private rooms available for families to relax (3 hours / including a bath fee of 2,000 yen per person / reservations accepted for 2 or more people).