Charming Old World Lodging Above Historic Traditional Japanese Bathhouse
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2003
About the owner: Eugene Phillips, builder, designer and artist, specializing in historic restorations and Montserrat Wassam, fine arts painter and installation artist, bought The Miyazaki bathhouse, an Historic landmark, as a virtual ruin. With their shared interest in water, history and the preservation of cultures, they devoted much of their time and love to the re creation of the Sento (bathhouse) as an expression of their mutual artistic vision, and as a vehicle to honor the customs of the Japanese culture and to introduce the love of the soaking ritual to Americans. Eugene grew up in Atascadero Ca. and Montserrat grew up in Paris France. They split their time between their home in San Francisco and Walnut Grove, Ca.
Why the Owner Chose Walnut Grove:
We stumbled upon The Miyazaki (built around the 1890's) as we took small back roads on our way home from 1 of our many excursions. We were very taken with the charming ghost town like quality of Walnut Grove and Locke and their haunting history.
We had fallen in love while soaking in wild hot springs and the thought of owning and restoring a genuine Sento on the historic registry where we could soak and stay in the old boarding house upstairs, was... well...rather irresistible.
Then we found out that there were once hundreds of these Japanese Bathhouses in the country, but after WWII they fell into disrepair and faded away.
We simply loved the challenge of breathing life back into it as it was once the very heart beat of this Japanese community.
Everyone thought we were nuts, and we were, but now we have a gem, and the community has blossomed around us, offering a ghost town with a burgeoning artist community. What a thrill!!
The Unique Benefits at this Bed And Breakfast:
Where else can you stay that offers real comfort with such unique charm, in a restored Historic landmark of cultural significance, with the opportunity to use the private soaking hot & cool tubs and steam room of the Miyazaki Osento, while lounging in the tatami area with tea service?
Did I mention we can arrange for you to get an amazing massage by a certified licensed massage therapist during your stay?
Contact us
Links to more information:
Photos
-
The Sento. Hot & cool soaking tubs & steam room
-
Traditional stool for pre-scrub before entering tubs, a Japanese ritual...
-
-
Sitting area among the art
-
Different view of Tatami lounge area for tea service
-
Art gallery
-
Day bed in tea parlor
-
Dining area
-
A peak into the upstairs bathroom. Even the fluffy robes are supplied!
-
Looking out on to the little town
-
Beginning of Spring, side entrance
-
Sandhill crane bird migration, 5 minutes away
-
The Sento (Bath house)
-
A zen moment in the steam!
-
Making salt scrubs
-
View of Tatami lounge area and beyond into the Sento
-
Tatami lounge among the art
-
Fantasy bedroom in The Bamboo!
-
The tea parlor in lodging upstairs.
-
Kitchen
-
The front entrance
-
Park side of building in Fall
-
A little cafe in the plaza before your soak?
-
Bucolic view of the Sacramento river from Walnut Grove (1 block away)
VRBO #484792
There have been visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in .
This listing was first published here in 2013.
Date last modified - Saturday, February 08, 2014
This property does not have any reviews yet.
Be the first to write a review for this listing...