Did you notice the zodiac-themed reception at the entrance to this ryokan inn?

It is not a painting. This is a traditional Japanese “Yūzen” dyework depicting a “gateway” motif using the twelve animals of the Zodiac. Now, why is Myojinkan called the “Gateway spa”? To find out, we must look to an ancient legend.

Many people already know about the gate to Amaterasu’s celestial cave. What’s crucial to us is what happened after.

It is said that, when the mighty Ama-no-Tajikarao threw down the stone gate, it landed right in the middle of Japan. Where could that spot be? Some theories place it at Togakushi in Nagano Prefecture, but the local version pins the gate “on a mountain nearby.” While two flat 15-meter stones do remain, the source of the “gateway” moniker is legends like this one.

This yūzen was crafted by Terasawa Moriaki. The owner of Myojinkan hit it off with a fellow Japanese man while on a trip to Bali, and without even knowing his name, promised to meet him again once they returned to Japan. The man kept his promise, and has since sent a piece of art every year to “liven up” the ryokan. The guests also look forward to the next piece that will adorn the frontispiece.

And it is not just Mr. Terasawa’s work. Myojinkan hides many and more pieces with similar connections. The next guides will open the gate to each of their stories.

※Mr. Terasawa is slated to complete his 9-year project: a fusuma sliding door depicting three dragon gods.

Incidentally, the zodiac frontispiece is not the only Terasawa work here. Entering from the lobby, climb the inner stairs to the 2nd floor and you’ll find an artwork of a Japanese larch tree. The belt-shaped yūzen on the 3rd and 4th floors are also gifts from Terasawa. They playfully depict the local plant life. It’s said that a “Dōsojin,” a traveler’s guardian deity, hides among them, and only the pure-hearted can find it.

We encourage you to look for it while exploring the inn.