The finest spirit of Omotenashi, Japanese hospitality──

After the war, the world began to calm down, and Wakura once again began their developments. With Japan’s rapid economic growth, many Ryokan were rebuilt as multi-storied buildings made with reinforced concrete, becoming the foundation for the current landscape of Wakura.

At one point, over 1.5 million visitors would come to Wakura in a year. But after the economic bubble, many ryokan were forced to cease operations due to the recession. However, most of the ryokan are still as dazzling and radiant as before. This is no metaphor. At night, when you drive across Nanao bay and gaze upon the Wakura Onsen, the whole scene seems to be glittering brilliantly against the night sky. The source behind this brilliance is the “premier omotenashi” spirit. Even though Wakura is located in such an inconvenient location, they have been able to remain Japan’s prominent location for onsen. The reasoning behind this is definitely tied to their spirit of omotenashi, which is top level even within Japan.

You most likely realized this as you traveled through the town, but why is it that the people of Wakura are able to provide such amazing omotenashi? One ryokan proprietress explained that, “The children of Wakura must always learn flower arrangement, tea ceremony, and Japanese budō (traditional dance).” It is not just because of their long history as an onsen town. The omotenashi spirit could well have been raised in all of them through these activities too. Why don’t you try to find the secret to this yourself?

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