地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Umi Jigoku and Kannawa’s Medicinal Springs at the Beginning of Japan’s Modern Period

By the late nineteenth century, Kannawa had become a destination of some significance for hot spring bathing. Although Kannawa was a small village, with just 563 people according to the 1885 Bungo no kuni Hayami gunsonshi (Bungo Province Hayami Region and Village Journal), approximately 3,000 people used the local baths for medicinal purposes every year. About one-fourth of residents rented rooms to these travelers as a side business; the record lists 34 lodging facilities among 139 total buildings. It is believed many visiting bathers were farmers who came to rest and recuperate after a season of hard work in the fields.

In the early twentieth century, entrepreneur Senju Yoshihiko purchased the property around Umi Jigoku with the intention of piping its water to local inns for use in hot spring baths. Senju’s land manager Utsunomiya Noritsuna (1889–1973) had another idea: to take visitors to see the bubbling hot springs for a small fee. In this way, Umi Jigoku’s founders transformed a pool of scalding water, once considered a dangerous nuisance and waste of valuable land, into a tourist attraction and business asset.

This development, along with similar projects around Kannawa, is believed to have spurred the village’s growth as a hot spring destination. By 1919, about 170,000 bathers visited every year.

近代早期的海地獄和鐵輪療養溫泉

19世紀末的鐵輪已是小有名氣的溫泉勝地。據1885年出版的《豐後國速見郡村志》記載，小小的鐵輪村居民不過563人，但每年來泡湯療養的卻有約3000人。近1/4村民以租房為副業，全村139棟屋宅中有34處提供旅宿服務。據說，來訪者多是辛勞一季後前來休養小歇的農民。

20世紀初，千壽吉彥在海地獄附近置產，最初只是想抽取溫泉水供本地旅舍沐浴所用，可他的土地管理人宇都宮則綱卻另有想法：引導遊客來參觀地獄溫泉並收取少許費用。就這樣海地獄景區誕生，曾被認為是徒具危險的沸水池變成了可以盈利的旅遊勝地和商業資產。

這項開創性的想法，以及當地其他類似專案的開發，也讓鐵輪村迅速成為溫泉勝地。到1919年，每年的溫泉訪客已達約17萬人之多。

近代早期的海地狱与铁轮疗愈温泉

19世纪末的铁轮已是小有名气的温泉胜地。据1885年出版的《丰后国速见郡村志》记载，虽然小小的铁轮村居民不过563人，每年前来泡汤疗愈的却有约3000人。约1/4村民以租房为副业，全村139栋屋宅中有34处提供宿泊服务。据说，来访者多是辛劳一季后前来休养小歇的农民。

20世纪初，千寿吉彦在海地狱附近置产，最初只是想抽取温泉水供本地旅舍沐浴所用，可他的土地管理人宇都宫则纲却另有想法：引导游客来参观地狱温泉，收取少量费用。就这样，海地狱景区诞生，曾被认为是徒具危险的沸水池变成了可以盈利的旅游胜地和商业资产。

这项开创性举措以及同地区其他类似项目的开发，令铁轮村迅速发展成为温泉胜地。到1919年，每年的温泉访客已达约17万人之多。