Near the 36th temple, Shoryuji Tosaryu Onsen Sanyo-so

The Story Held In the Guesthouse

Relaxing bath for pilgrims born from Kobo Daishi’s revelation

Usacho in Tosa City, Kochi Prefecture overlooks Dragon Beach, where gentle waves lap at the shore, with the lush greenery of Yokonami Peninsula stretching out behind it. Sanyo-so was established here in 1989, close to Seiryu-ji Temple, the 36th sacred site.

The origins of this inn are a bit mysterious. The founder, who held deep devotion to Kobo Daishi (Kukai), hoped to create a place to heal pilgrims both mentally and physically. Then, he chose this place as if he had been guided by Kobo Daishi’s revelation and had a hot spring excavated there.

What gushed forth from an immense depth of 1,700 meters underground was the golden-hued “Tosaryu Onsen”. Its rare chloride-rich waters quickly became loved as a ”relaxing bath”, soothing pilgrims walking a tough 1,200 km journey.

In the inn, many Buddha statues are enshrined, including the pure gold “Golden Daishi” statue, which symbolizes the founder’s deep faith. However, what Sanyo-so keeps preserving is not only its past history. A new team has started the challenge of evolving the long-standing spirit of “goodwill” and “hospitality” as a pilgrimage accommodation into a form that resonates with modern travelers.

Rather than relying on scripted politeness, we strive to understand the unspoken needs behind our guests’ words and act with thoughtful initiative. I believe that this kindness, unique to Sanyo-so, will make your travel memories even more meaningful.

The owner’s thoughts and philosophy

I started my career at a day-trip tourist facility and then changed jobs to the hospitality industry. Since then, I have been involved in team management and the development of each property’s appeal at a variety of accommodations, including Hoshino Resorts. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to become the owner of Sanyo-so and moved to Kochi with my family. At first, many staff members were uncertain about my approach because I was trying to fundamentally rethink what this historic accommodation should be. However, what I most wanted to convey was the importance of building a system that allows the inn to keep delighting guests, even as times change.

What surprised me upon becoming the owner was the strong culture of “goodwill” unique to pilgrimage accommodations. For example, no cancellation fees were charged even when pilgrims were unable to arrive on the day of their stay because of weather or other circumstances. While I respect the desire to support pilgrims, such a practice is not sustainable for an inn. I established clear accommodation terms and a cancellation policy, laying the foundation for a “sustainable accommodation”.

However, this does not mean becoming overly businesslike. Rather, we can support each guest more closely because of the stable foundation. I tell our staff members that “polite customer service and the kindness unique to Sanyo-so are not the same”. They are free to speak in Tosa dialect, the local dialect. What matters most is sensing what guests truly want and acting with thoughtful initiative.

Our staff often start conversations with travelers and international guests who may not be familiar with pilgrimage culture by sharing, for example, “Asashoryu’s sumo wrestler’s name came from Seiryu-ji Temple”. They may also gently talk to guests who appear tired. Such wholehearted acts of kindness by our staff are now reflected in the many positive reviews.

We will keep sharing the appeal of Shikoku with the world through warm communication that can only be experienced here.

Pursuit of kindness in tune with the times, and the bounty of Tosa that heal both body and mind.

Hospitality from an international team, beyond language barriers

At Sanyo-son, we are proud to have international staff, including from Vietnam and Taiwan. Their presence is a great help as the number of international pilgrims has been increasing rapidly. Even though they are not fluent in Japanese or English, their sincere efforts to communicate using gestures transcend borders, touching guests’ hearts and creating warm connections.

Golden-hued hot spring that heals fatigue

Tosaryu Onsen, the only high-concentration and high-temperature hot spring in Kochi, gushes forth from a depth of 1,700 meters underground. Its chloride-rich waters form a thin layer on the skin, providing excellent heat retention. It helps relieve muscle fatigue and deeply soothes both body and mind for pilgrims walking dozens of kilometers a day, as well as travelers enjoying activities. Soaking in the open-air baths or small bathtubs for a single person while feeling the breeze from the Pacific Ocean is truly exceptional.

Food culture in Tosa and consideration for diversity

Usacho in Tosa is said to be the birthplace of honkareboshi (dried bonito flakes). With great care about umami-rich dashi, we offer kaiseki (traditional Japanese course meals) using many fresh local ingredients, including straw-grilled bonito landed on the same day and Ise Shrimp. To ensure that guests from around the world can enjoy meals without worries, we also actively work on vegetarian and vegan options, which has been appreciated by many.