Shuzenji is the starting point of Yasunari Kawabata’s The Izu Dancer. The other day, while rereading it at our villa in Kita-Karuizawa, I began to want to visit Shuzenji too. I had previously taken a “Snow Country journey” in Echigo-Yuzawa, so this time it would be a The Izu Dancer version. Looking into it, Arai Ryokan in Shuzenji seemed promising. It is a nationally registered cultural property, and was visited not only by Kawabata himself but also by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Kyoshi, and others. I had hoped to go during the autumn foliage season, but I saw on NHK News that it had temporarily closed because of the typhoon. Judging from the footage, it was a complete mess. The garden must be ruined as well.
I will try again next year or later. I pray for the fastest possible recovery.