A Japanese fairy, Zashiki-warashi

There is a room of Japanese style hotel "Ryokan " which has been filled until 2005/12/31. Then many people are waiting until they start to accept reservations again 2006/1/1. You think it would be cool place with fine view? No, unfortunately I can say no.

It is here Ryokufuso in Iwate Prefecture. I have to say just a old Ryokan which is very inconvenient place to visit. So why is this place so popular?  It's because they say Zashiki-washi lives in "the room Enjyu". This is the room.  Zashiki-warashi is a sort of a Japanese fairy of hearth, which guards a house and brings fortune to its inhabitants. It often appears in old native tale in Japan. We have a little child image like this for Zashiki-warashi.

Here is an article written about Zashiki-warashi, actually he tried to enter the room. Sometimes I saw about this Ryokuenso on TV. A reporters slept the room and said "someone walked around my pillow" or " A little kid touched my feet" or etc,. HA! I don't know it is true or not. But at least I can say this; Ryokan has a good fortune and seem to be lucky because they get so many custmers without reform or renewal to their building and no need for sales efforts. Is it because of him? he he

Comments

[Jo]

interesting enough, who knows if this little zashiki-warashi really exists or not, of if it's only a commercial stratagem...^_^ more or less like our Holy Mother statue crying blood in Italy, you may have heard about this...eh eh. Anyhow if sleeping in this room makes customers feel better, it's ok. Is there any Japanese legend related to little child fairy? I love legends and miths.
P.S.: comments seems to work again, thanks Mari.

[Charles]

I wonder if anyone dies of old age while waiting for their reservation at the ryokan.

[robert]

I met some guys from Iwate once..they were a fun group! Man, they could drink! I enjoyed their country style view of life. It was not cluttered with alot of the things which trouble most US urban dwellers...of course I am generalizing, but yeah they were a fun group. I think if I were a roving spirit I would hang out there. Though I would probably pick a place that had internet access, or an x-box at least.