Amami Onsen

A hot spring located in the mountains, the main building of Nanten-en is a valuable architectural structure designed by the Tatsuno Kataoka Architectural Office of Kingo Tatsuno, who also worked on Tokyo Station and other buildings.

It is built in the sukiya-style irimoya style with a gabled roof based on Japanese style while incorporating Western modern elements, and has a Japanese garden on its expansive grounds.

In 2003, it was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.

Nanten-en was moved to Amami after the annex (family bath) of “Ohama Shioyu” in Sakai City was destroyed by Typhoon Muroto, and was originally used as an annex of “Matsumushi Kadan,” a ryotei restaurant in Abeno, Osaka City.

In 1949, it was opened as a hot spring inn “Nanten-en.” The building is a large two-story wooden structure with an irimoya gabled roof in the sukiya style, and is a valuable example of architecture that combines Japanese and Western modern design. The building is a rare example of architecture that blends Japanese and Western modern design.

The building, designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, is a place where visitors can experience good old Japan.

Kimi-toge has long been used for worship at Koyasan and has been visited by many people. In the Nanbokucho Period (14th century), the priest of the nearby Nagareya Hachiman Shrine established a hot-spring cure for the sick and weak, which was very well received.

Nagareya Gokuraku-ji Temple was built, and it became customary for worshippers to visit Gokuraku-ji Temple before going to Koyasan, hence the name Gokuraku Onsen.

However, the shrine was destroyed by fire, and the Gokuraku-ji temple’s Gokuraku-yu chamber was similarly destroyed by fire, so everything was lost. After that, the hot spring was abandoned without being rebuilt, and only the ruins remained.

In 1935, a floor plan of Amami Onsen at that time was discovered, and the local people began to revive the Amami Onsen, and in 1949, the onsen ryokan “Nanten-en” was opened.

The area used to be crowded with travelers on pilgrimages to Koya, and is surrounded on all sides by the rich nature of the Kongo-Katsuragi mountain range.