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The exit becomes a regular tunnel without any of the decorations, benches, or the other two openings inside the front of the building. After going from the real world to the bathhouse, Chihiro travels to a world where she makes a train journey over the water, before returning to the bathhouse and back home. In the train sequence, the scenery has a desolate air and the people who get on and off are shadow figures wearing old-fashioned clothes. Visitors to the location can use any of the baths apart from the Yushinden or imperial section. You can however take a tour of the imperial section seeing where the emperors used to bathe, relax and revitalise themselves. The tour staff are incredible friendly and are very eager to show off everything the bath house has to offer, especially the emperor’s private toilet.
Spirit Realm
But she soon gives in because she had to keep the promise she made when she became the owner of the Bathhouse.
Why Hayao Miyazaki Chose A Bathhouse As The Setting For Spirited Away - Looper
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Get Spirited Away to a Japanese Bathhouse!
Read our guide 12 Japanese Hot Springs You Can Dip In With Swimsuits and enjoy the best of both worlds. Although not confirmed officially, it is said that a relative of Hayao Miyazaki once worked as an okami (female manager) at this hot spring hotel in Kanagawa Prefecture. Hayao Miyazaki spent some of his childhood here, which certainly impacted the creation of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle. There is a “Totoro tree” in the spacious garden of Jinya, which is believed to be the tree Hayao Miyazaki climbed and played on as a child, serving as a source of inspiration for the animation. Kodakara Yu looks like a solemn shrine from the outside, which is the unique style of Tokyo sento (communal bathhouses) built after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923.
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One tunnel we went through (pictured below) took us out to a tea house and beautiful view. You don't expect that kind of thing when you get into small, scary tunnels. While the tale ends up involving dragons, twin witches, and even a giant baby that's turned into a mouse, the bathhouse remains a crucial set piece throughout the film. Two pivotal scenes in the film occur in its third act, set at Hotel Kusukaru, a fictional establishment but one that is based directly on Kamikochi Imperial Hotel, located near the Japanese Alps. In one scene, a stranger with grey eyes warns of the disastrous folly of World War II and Japan’s imminent destruction. In another, aeronautical engineer Jiro Horikoshi finds the love of his life, the sickly but kind-hearted Naoko, and throws a paper plane towards her balcony.
In theological terms, Chihiro’s experience is of a voyage to another world, and then a return to our own. There are many stories of journeys to heaven or hell and back in human history. A kamikakushi refers to the sudden vanishing of somebody for no reason. It was apparently due to the absence of a known reason that such events were attributed to the kami (gods). Or it might be that identifying the kami as the perpetrators was a way of finding acceptance. If you're a fan of Studio Ghibli, you've no doubt seen the news that the Ghibli theme park has officially launched its website along with a whimsical trailer offering a sneak peak inside the park.
But if you are more interested in ‘Spirited Away’ rather than the site historical and cultural significance then you can head to the official studio Ghibli shop right outside. Seen as a healing ritual for both the body and spirit, bathing is extremely commonplace in Japan. For those familiar with another Miyazaki classic, "My Neighbor Totoro," you might remember the scene where Satsuki and Mei unwind in the bath with their father after a long day of work. To some Americans, this ritual may seem a little odd at first, but for the Japanese it is an extremely common and social activity.
The design of the bridge was inspired by Sekizenkan Honkan in Shima Onsen, Gunma Prefecture. The bridge in front of Sekizenkan has low red railings, and it feels like you will enter the mysterious world of Spirited Away if you hold your breath when crossing the bridge. Kamajii is the Boiler Man, and he's in charge of heating the baths in the Bathhouse. He also has (adorable!) Sootballs or Makkuro-Kurosuke that help him keep the baths hot for the guests. Haku tells Chihiro to get a job from Kamajii, but she goes with Lin instead to go to Yubaba for a job.
Nowadays, it’s a nice spot for a stroll and the views from the top of the hill towards Matsuyama castle are quite spectacular. The interior also holds a plenty of artefacts that used to belong to the occupying families, including some impressive pieces of armour, swords and everyday objects. We found it to be one of the best castles in the country to get a sense of the way of life during the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate. In a way, it’s also well known internationally, as the bathhouse featuring heavily in the Studio Ghibli Movie ‘Spirited Away‘hi (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) is heavily based on Dogo Onsen.
How Hayao Miyazaki Found The Setting For Spirited Away
Even if you’re not, the food, the views, and the architecture are incredible. Jiufen seriously had way too many stairs, but it made for a very unique looking place. I seem to remember stairs being a common occurrence in Spirited Away, as well. Up the stairs down the stairs, stairs in the background, egg and stair, bacon and stair egg, bacon, sausage and stairs with eggs, stairs stairs stairs stairs. Just the amount you see in both the film and real place is enough to convince me that Miyazaki was here and taking notes. If that's not enough for you, all you have to do is look at the winding roads and long staircases featured in both places.
You can get to Matsuyama Castle by either walking up the hill or by taking the rope-way at the eastern end of the castle grounds (500¥ roundtrip). If you’re walking, choosing the route from the south-west is the best option, as it allows you to drop into Ninomaru Historical Garden on the way (see next entry). The temperature of the water is about 42° C (108° F), so step in slowly and don’t stay in the pool for too long (about 15 minutes tops). Definitely worth a visit if you are in Taipei for a decent length of time. Jiufen and Spirited Away certainly have connections, though I don't know how much is real inspiration and how much is "reading too much into things." Whatever it was, it was a fun trip and I highly recommend it. You can fly from Japan to Taiwan for fairly cheap, so if you have an extra week or so pop down to see what the fuss is all about.
Takei Sanshodo is a stationery store founded in the early Meiji period, with drawers full of products covering its walls. It is worth mentioning that all the 29 guest rooms have different room designs and layouts, with some furnished as a standard Japanese-style room, and others equipped with stained glass. All the rooms are full of Japanese elements, making one want to visit again and again.
There is also a set of old, unstable side stairs that lead directly into Kamajii's Boiler Room, bypassing the usual method of arriving by internal elevators. Photo Courtesy to Rocket News 24Did you know there's a real-life Spirited Away? In Taiwan, a town called Jiufen resembles much of the movie's locations. From lantern-lined paths to food vendors that make mouthwatering munchies, this city is referred to as the real-life setting of Spirited Away.
Yubaba is strict to her employees like the Queen of Hearts in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.[1] When Yubaba ordered the slaughter of Chihiro's parents, this action resembled the Queen of Heart's infamous line 'Off with their heads! ' Chihiro's parent was allured by the smell of Food Stalls to transform them into pig afterward like the witch in Hansel and Gretel did. Her name Yubaba sounds like Baba Yaga, a witch from a Russian fairy tale.
On Identity, Miyazaki, and Japanese Bathhouses - Longreads
On Identity, Miyazaki, and Japanese Bathhouses.
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Kamajii seems like a rough man at first, but he aids Chihiro and Haku later in the movie. For example, he lets an injured Haku stay in the Boiler Room to recuperate. Kamajii also gives train tickets to Chihiro when she wants to return the Golden Seal to Yubaba's twin sister, Zeniba.
The imposing wooden building is nestled in a serene mountain forest with a mysterious atmosphere. In addition to the bridge on the outside, there is an arched tunnelway inside Sekizenkan that is similar to the one seen in the film. The wooden walkway and sliding paper doors are also reminiscent of the staff room where Sen and the others live.
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