Located in Yuno, Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Houzanen is a historic ryokan in Yuno Onsen, one of the 'Three Famous Hot Springs of Boucho' (Suo and Nagato provinces). The hot spring's origins date back over 1,700 years, when Empress Jingu and Takenouchi no Sukune are said to have discovered it while praying for the recovery of Emperor Ojin. Records of bathing cures here date to the An'ei era (1772-1781), and the area remains a quiet countryside retreat surrounded by mountains and the gentle Yaichi River. The water quality is a rare Sulfur-Containing Weak Radioactive Alkaline Simple hot spring (pH 9.5) with a source temperature of 32.4 degrees Celsius. This silky, smooth water is highly prized as a 'beauty bath' and is unusual for the Seto Inland Sea coastal region. Houzanen features 19 guest rooms including 10 detached cottages scattered through a tranquil inner garden, plus a new large bath 'Howanoyu', open-air bath, source-water bath, cypress bath, private baths, and a foot bath, all fed by 100% natural free-flowing hot spring water.