The Ryokan has evolved through the centuries. Today, it offers a
hundred rooms and can accomodate up to 450 guests.
Everything has been set to fully satisfy each customer, the latest
being considered as a privileged guest.
The tea ceremony is a characteristic of the traditional japanese
welcome.
Natural produce is served during the meals, especially seafood from
the next ocean which contributes to the Ryokan reputation.
Japanese people, more than any other, pay attention to their way
of life, constantly searching harmony with nature and appreciating
the changes of seasons.
Following this idea, each room in the Ryokan has been given a poetic
name by Hoshi.
An "Emmeikaku", guest house built in the garden, can be
found in the Ryokan as well, with walls and ceilings being nicely
decorated with red checked patterns from the Hokuriku area.
Upon his arrival, the new coming guest is garbed in a "Yukata",
the japanese traditionnal cotton kimono, introducing a relaxing
stay where anyone can get rid of his stress.
This is the way the Ryokan Hoshi fulfils the wishes of its guests,
in respect to the traditionnal and historical japanese hospitality,
inherated from fourty-six generations of owners, paying attention
to an absolute bliss.
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Key Dates of the
Company's History |
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717 |
In 717, the great Buddhist monk
and teacher, Taicho Daishi, guided by a woodcutter named Gongoro
Sasakiri, climbed high up Mount Hakusan, an isolated sacred
mountain, in order to meditate. One night, while Taicho was
sleeping after beginning his rigorous regime of spiritual
exercises, the guardian deity of Mount Hakusan appeared to
him in a dream and said :
"Lying about twenty-three kilometres from the foot of
the mountain is a village called Awazu. There you will find
an underground spring of hot water with wondrous, curative
powers, which have been bestowed upon it by Yakushi Nyorai,
the Divine Healer. However, the villagers are unaware of this
blessing. Go down from the mountain and go to Awazu. With
the people of the village, unearth the hot spring and it will
serve them for ever."
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Taicho did as he had been commanded
and made his way down from the mountain to the village, where
he sought the people's help in uncovering the treasure that
lay hidden beneath the earth.
When they had found the spring, Taicho told the sick to bathe
in its waters and their health was immediately restored. Taicho
then ordered his disciple, Garyo Hoshi, to build a spa on
the site and to run it for posterity.
After carrying out the command of the deity, Taicho Daishi
continued with his intensive spiritual exercises and experienced
satori, a state of inner enlightenment.
Rumours of his supernatural powers found their way even to
the Imperial Court in Nara. In this way, Taicho became known
as the respected Koshi no Daitoku, the Great Man of Virtue
from Koshi.
As this story shows, the origins of Hoshi, now the oldest
inn in the world, are truly divine.
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