Kinugawa Kan, also known as Kinugawa Honkan, was an abandoned hotel and public hot spring bath in Kinugawa Onsen, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Operating from 1942 to 1999, it was once part of a thriving resort town near Nikko, approximately two hours northwest of Tokyo.
Kinugawa Onsen, renowned for its natural hot springs discovered during the Meiji Period, became a popular retreat for Tokyo residents, attracting up to 3.4 million visitors annually at its peak. In the 1970s, rapid development led to the construction of large concrete hotels along the Kinugawa River, which eventually obscured the natural beauty of...Read More
Kinugawa Kan, also known as Kinugawa Honkan, was an abandoned hotel and public hot spring bath in Kinugawa Onsen, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Operating from 1942 to 1999, it was once part of a thriving resort town near Nikko, approximately two hours northwest of Tokyo.
Kinugawa Onsen, renowned for its natural hot springs discovered during the Meiji Period, became a popular retreat for Tokyo residents, attracting up to 3.4 million visitors annually at its peak. In the 1970s, rapid development led to the construction of large concrete hotels along the Kinugawa River, which eventually obscured the natural beauty of the area. This overdevelopment diminished the town’s appeal, leading to a decline in tourism and the closure of several establishments, including Kinugawa Kan.
Since its closure, Kinugawa Kan has significantly deteriorated. The exterior is weathered, signage rusted, and interiors overrun with vegetation growing through moss-covered tatami mats and wooden floors. Many floors have collapsed, and large sections are in darkness, with only outer guest rooms, lounges, and the restaurant offering views of the river below. Adjacent hotels along the river’s gorge are also abandoned, creating a haunting landscape of decaying structures.
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