Historic ryokan sells for ¥212 million
The city of Fuchu in Hiroshima Prefecture will be purchasing a historic ryokan for an estimated 212.5 million Yen (approx. US$2 million).
Historic ryokan in Gunma to be demolished this month
The Kazawa-kan Ryokan in Tsumagoi, Gunma, is scheduled to be demolished in the coming months. The traditional inn suffered serious damage due to a landslide caused by the Typhoon Hagibis in October 2019. Facing an astronomical repair bill and with the recent pandemic decimating the local tourism market, the 4th-generation owner made the difficult decision to cease operations.
91-yr old building in Jimbocho to be demolished
The 91-year old former Sogo Mutual Loan building in Tokyo’s Jimbocho neighborhood will be demolished in September. The 5-story concrete building with brick-tile facade was built in 1929. It has a total floor area of 453 sqm (4,874 sq.ft) and sits on a 106 sqm block of land.
113-year old house in Setagaya may be demolished
Unless a last-minute deal can be struck, the historic former home of Yukio Ozaki (1858-1954), a revered politician nicknamed the ‘father of the Japanese Constitution’, is likely to be demolished very soon.
83-yr old bathhouse in Osaka closes its doors
A historic and elaborately designed bathhouse in Osaka’s Ikuno Ward has closed its doors for good, ending 80+ years of operations. Gengabashi Onsen is thought to have been built in 1937 by a local landowner.
Heritage listed shop in Nagasaki to be demolished
A 122-year old jewelry store in Nagasaki will be demolished this month after the owner has decided to sell off the land. The Ezaki Bekko Store was founded in 1709 and, until this month, was Japan’s oldest tortoiseshell specialty store.
Heritage-listed ryokan in Chiba to close and be demolished
The latest coronavirus-related closure in Japan’s hotel industry is the heritage-listed Kappo Ryokan Tamagawa in Funabashi, Chiba. On May 19, the operator announced that the ryokan had closed permanently at the end of April. No time will be wasted, with demolition of the 92-year old ryokan to start as early as June.