[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/onsen-in-ehime-inspiration-for-spirited-aways-witchy-bathhouse-best-summer-retreat\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/onsen-in-ehime-inspiration-for-spirited-aways-witchy-bathhouse-best-summer-retreat\/","headline":"Summer retreat onsen in Ehime inspiration for Spirited Away\u2019s witchy bathhouse","name":"Summer retreat onsen in Ehime inspiration for Spirited Away\u2019s witchy bathhouse","description":"If you have binged on revered Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki\u2019s enchanting fantasy film Spirited Away, you would have come across its witchy bathhouse, where the film\u2019s heroine Chihiro once worked. Like most Japanese animations where fictitious scenes and sets are often inspired by real life, the same can be said for this bathhouse which, […]","datePublished":"2021-07-09","dateModified":"2022-01-18","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/ler-jun-sng\/#Person","name":"Ler Jun Sng","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/ler-jun-sng\/","identifier":320,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/96c2c5ed54668ff02cc041326a58a56424181d9285b8f54cd192dd573e876ae5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/96c2c5ed54668ff02cc041326a58a56424181d9285b8f54cd192dd573e876ae5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1625824899439_Copy_of_Dogo_Onsen_1280x626.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1625824899439_Copy_of_Dogo_Onsen_1280x626.jpg","height":626,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/onsen-in-ehime-inspiration-for-spirited-aways-witchy-bathhouse-best-summer-retreat\/","video":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk","name":"Spirited Away - Official Trailer","description":"From Hayao Miyazaki, one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema, comes the Academy Award winning masterpiece, Spirited Away.\n\nSpirited Away is a wondrous fantasy about a young girl named Chihiro who discovers a secret world of strange spirits, creatures and sorcery. When her parents are mysteriously transformed, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world.\n\nDirector: Hayao Miyazaki\nYear of Production: 2001\n\nSubscribe to our channel for all the latest updates and videos!\n\nWebsite: https:\/\/www.madman.com.au \nLike us on Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/madman\nFollow us on Twitter: https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/madman\nFollow us on Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/madmananime\/\nFollow us on LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/madman-anime-group\/\n\u00a9 2020 Madman Entertainment","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ByXuk9QqQkk\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ByXuk9QqQkk\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ByXuk9QqQkk\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ByXuk9QqQkk\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ByXuk9QqQkk\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2014-09-17T05:26:18+00:00","duration":"PT2M27S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ByXuk9QqQkk","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCRuJMENPfFiMYoqCXleDLLQ#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCRuJMENPfFiMYoqCXleDLLQ","name":"Crunchyroll Store Australia","description":"Official clips, trailers and more from Crunchyroll Store Australia.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/TKMkHTtIsFyzuU0rVtULVGG59xRIU-0kKTVeX9Honn2SEVSnbMhzmQVRq33LWtH4654potHMxQ=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":17097068}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":136725}]},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pznqTTkurvw#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pznqTTkurvw","name":"Train scene from \"Spirited Away\"","description":"All credit belongs to the film and its owners. Absolutely no copyright infringement is intended here. This is simply posted for entertainment purposes. I claim none of this as my own.\n\nAll credit belongs to Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli, Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV), DENTSU Music And Entertainment, Tokuma Shoten, Buena Vista International, Tohokushinsha Film, and Mitsubishi Commercial Affairs. Also AIC Animate Film, Anime Torotoro, Buena Vista Negative Cutting, Buena Vista Sound, DOGA Productions, Dr. Digital , Gainax, Group Donguri , Imagica , JEM, Liberty Ship , Mad House , Milan Records , Mugenkan Nakamura Production , New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Oh Production, Production I.G. , Radical Party , SHAFT , Studio Boomerang , Studio Cockpit , Studio DEEN , Studio Fuga , Studio Hibari , Studio Kuma, Studio Musashi, Studio Takuranke, Sumida Triphony Hall , T2 Studio, Takahashi Production ,Toho Sound Studio , Tokuma Japan Communications Co. Ltd., Tokyo TV Center. \u00a92001","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/pznqTTkurvw\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/pznqTTkurvw\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/pznqTTkurvw\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/pznqTTkurvw\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/pznqTTkurvw\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2013-12-13T09:17:41+00:00","duration":"PT1M34S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pznqTTkurvw","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeupXat1-Ja-gOGXW253NZg#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeupXat1-Ja-gOGXW253NZg","name":"tzetzat","description":"\nJoined June 9, 2010\n\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/ytc\/AIdro_mq8mPwzdCfTifvavdB-ZMWjk3RDPIYNCm0-jutpl_Xww=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pznqTTkurvw#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pznqTTkurvw#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pznqTTkurvw&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pznqTTkurvw#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":386186}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pznqTTkurvw#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":2750}]}],"about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":1435,"articleBody":"If you have binged on revered Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki\u2019s enchanting fantasy film Spirited Away, you would have come across its witchy bathhouse, where the film\u2019s heroine Chihiro once worked. Like most Japanese animations where fictitious scenes and sets are often inspired by real life, the same can be said for this bathhouse which, according to Miyazaki\u2019s animation studio Studio Ghibli, was inspired from an onsen in the Ehime Prefecture in the northwestern region of the island of Shikoku, Japan.\u00a0\u00a0A four-hour bullet train ride southwest of Osaka, Ehime is one of four districts set within the island of Shikoku, Japan\u2019s second smallest main island. Facing the Seto Inland Sea, where locals may dabble in pearl harvesting, fishing and seafaring as a way of life, Ehime boasts a laidback charm with its expansive coastline and several high mountains in the background. \u201cIt\u2019s a quiet place and has a slower pace of life,\u201d says Koji Kawasaki, 33, of his hometown.Sea-side hustleA coastal town in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. (Photo source: Canva)Previously based in Japan’s capital Tokyo, where he worked and studied the nuts and bolts of hairdressing, Mr Kawasaki made the decision to relocate to Singapore in 2012 to explore new work opportunities overseas. Hailing from Uwajima, a coastal city in Ehime, the professional hairstylist and manager at Japanese hair salon Kizuki+Lim reveals that Ehime is a leading producer of aquaculture products, such as sea bream farming and pearl harvesting.\u201cThanks to the region\u2019s topography, which is filled with indented coastline, deep creeks and suitable waters, many locals take on jobs as fishermen,\u201d he adds. \u201cMy family dabbles in cultivating pearls too.\u201dWarei Jinja in Ehime, Japan. (Photo source: livedoor)Growing up in the coastal town, Mr Kawasaki remembers visiting shrines sacred to the fishermen. One such shrine is Warei Jinja, also known as one of Shikoku\u2019s Grand Shrines. It features a massive 12-metre, stone-constructed torii gate that is said to be the largest stone torii gate, in Japan. \u201cWhile the elders head to the shrine to pray, the teenagers head there to denounce their love and break up with their partners,\u201d he laughs.\u00a0\u201cMy friend broke up with his girlfriend there. I didn\u2019t.\u201dAs with most coastal towns around the world, Uwajima City has some of the freshest and most fantastic seafood speciality dishes. The region\u2019s tai-meishi is a hearty delicacy with rice cooked in sea bream broth and topped with fresh sea bream sashimi, unlike other provinces\u2019 versions which pair cooked rice with grilled fish. Uwajima\u2019s tai-meishi is said to have many origins too. In one story, sea bream sashimi was added and enjoyed by Japanese sailors of the past, aboard ships where open flames were a threat. In another, pirates would add cooked rice, sea bream sashimi and soy sauce to bowls they drank from to conclude a drinking session.The region\u2019s delicate tai-meishi dish looks as stunning as it tastes. (Source: Japan National Tourism Organization)Mikan, the world\u2019s most expensive and refreshing mandarin orangesEhime is also known for its Mikan farms. (Photo source: Canva)Ehime is also home to the unassuming Mikan oranges too. According to a 2019 report by Japan\u2019s Statistic Bureau, Mikan oranges were Japan\u2019s highest yielding fruits in 2016 and 2019. In terms of total Mikan orange production, Ehime is ranked second, but first in the overall output of more than 40 different variants.According to Mr Kawasaki, the region\u2019s proximity to the ocean (which reflects the light from the sun) and abundant sunshine make Mikan farming a boon for the agriculture industry: \u201cMany of these mandarin oranges are small, seedless and easy to peel,\u201d he says, highlighting how Mikan-picking in orchards is both a popular activity and therapeutic olfactory experience. \u201cTaste-wise, they are extremely sweet and mildly tart with an almost jelly-like texture,\u201d he describes.\u201cIf you are of drinking age, you should try the Mikan craft beers too! They are easy to drink and really refreshing,\u201d he gushes.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Studio Ghibli\u2019s Spirited Away bathhouse and train stationThe public bathhouse in Ehime, Japan was an inspiration for the award-winning animation film, Spirited Away. (Photo source: Canva)In the central part of Ehime lies D\u014dgo Onsen, thought to be the oldest hot spring in Japan. With a history that goes as far back as three millennia, the hot spring, with its endless stream of smooth hot spring water, was frequently visited by the Imperial Family and renowned individuals, such as novelist Natsume Souseki, who penned the masterpiece Botchan, with D\u014dgo Onsen used as a creative inspiration.\u00a0\u00a0There are several public bathhouses built around the hot spring, including the D\u014dgo Onsen Honkan, a three-story castle-style bathhouse erected in 1894 during the Meiji Period, and D\u014dgo Onsen Asuka-no-Yu, a newer bathhouse that was established in 2017 and bears architectural styling from the Asuka period. Calling to mind the bustling bathhouse for the spirits and gods in the Japanese animated film Spirited Away, the interior is a maze of passages, rooms and stairways, with plenty of wooden furnishing and accents in between. Guests can choose between soaking in the two gender-separated public baths \u2013 Kami no Yu (water of the gods) and Tama no Yu (water of the spirits) \u2013 on the first floor before heading to the large communal tatami rooms to rest, or visit the numerous exhibitions within the bathhouse, as well.The historical public bathhouse features a traditional architectural design, and has plenty of wooden accents. (Photo source: Canva)For Mr Kawasaki, a trip back home guarantees a visit to the historical hot spring. Despite sporting artistic tattoos on his arms, the hairstylist reveals that, unlike other hot springs, D\u014dgo Onsen is tattoo-friendly. \u201cYou have to be naked inside the public baths and there are some etiquettes to follow. Be sure to shower down before dipping into the public baths,\u201d Mr Kawasaki shares.He adds: \u201cI like relaxing in the onsen whenever I am tired. I also like the rustic charm behind the hot spring town.\u201dFans of Studio Ghibli would flock to the seemingly isolated Shimonada train station to take in the beauty of the sea. (Photo source: Shutterstock)While tourists and Studio Ghibli enthusiasts would flock to the D\u014dgo Onsen as part of their travels, Ehime also boasts another attraction with a Studio Ghibli-esque aesthetic. \u201cI often bring my friends, who are first-timers to Ehime, to Shimonada Station,\u201d Mr Kawasaki says. A frequent feature on travel magazines, Shimonada Station unravels itself as a mysterious and seemingly isolated train station, just like the coastal station in Spirited Away, offering an unobstructed view of the Seto Inland Sea and tracks that are partially submerged by the sea.The gorgeous Shimonada Station faces the sea, and is a sight to behold at sunset. (Photo source: Mak \/ Unsplash)At sunset, Shimonada Station transforms into a fairytale of sorts. The sky bursts into a vibrant shade of orange (and at times, violet), while the gentle waves in the foreground glimmer against the sun\u2019s last rays. For commuters waiting at the platform or passengers gazing out of the window, this surreal view of sunset at sea holds a beguiling charm capable of whisking away your troubles, almost like how this scene unfolds in Spirted Away.\u201cIt takes about an hour before each train comes, so you will have ample time to take photographs around the area,\u201d Mr Kawasaki says.The best time to visit Ehime, according to him, is during the summer between mid-June and late-September. First-time visitors must pay a visit and support local shops at the region\u2019s many shopping arcades. Stores here are often managed and owned by the older generation. And as newer generations of youths prefer working in larger cities, such as Tokyo or Osaka, many, like Mr Kawasaki, have moved out of Ehime in pursuit of better prospects.As a result, many of these seniors are unable to find successors and have ultimately decided to shutter their doors for good. \u201cThese shopping arcades seem lonelier than ever but it can\u2019t be helped. What we need is the power of young people to return and perhaps start something again,\u201d he says.Some useful phrasesIt is useful to have some basic phrases at hand. When in Ehime or any parts of Japan, try these phrases in Japanese:Hello \u2013\u300c\u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f\u300d\uff0fkonnichiwaGood morning \u2013\u300c\u304a\u306f\u3088\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u300d\uff0fohayou gozaimasuGood afternoon \u2013\u300c\u3053\u306b\u3061\u306f\u300d\uff0fkonichiwaGood evening \u2013\u300c\u3053\u3093\u3070\u3093\u306f\u300d\uff0fkonbawaGood bye \u2013\u300c\u3055\u3088\u306a\u3089\u300d\uff0fsayonaraYes and No \u2013\u300c\u306f\u3044\u300d;\u300c\u3044\u3044\u3048\u300d\uff0fhai ; iieThank you \u2013\u300c\u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u300d\uff0farigatou gozaimasuJoin the conversations on TheHomeGround Asia’s\u00a0Facebook\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram, and get the latest updates via\u00a0Telegram."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Uncategorized","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Summer retreat onsen in Ehime inspiration for Spirited Away\u2019s witchy bathhouse","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/uncategorized\/onsen-in-ehime-inspiration-for-spirited-aways-witchy-bathhouse-best-summer-retreat\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]