A floor with a door
亀清の一番古い建物は中庭の奥にある２階建ての、上が大広間、下は客室と中広間のある建物です。７０年前ぐらいに隣の坂城町の宿場から移築されたそうです。元々は置き屋だったと言われています。
１００年近くの歴史のあ建物、なおかと置き屋だった、きっと色んなストリーがあるでしょう。
今は本当に久しぶりに大広間の建物を取り返っています。床の一部に腐れがあったから私がまた大工さんに変身して、修理しました。
その時に大広間の畳無い床は初めて見ました。いろんな不思議がありました。
２ヶ所に四角い板があって、きっとお茶会の為の釜の跡でしょうと。
もう１ヶ所は取っ手が板の表面にありました。そして、良く見たら、蝶番が近くにあった。何かの扉?明けれるかな?取っ手を手にして、持ち上げてみたら、ちゃんと開けました。何か宝物が隠れているかなと思ったら、空間でした。
私にとってはこの建物実態が宝物です。この宿ののれんを守って行きたいですね。建物のストリーが次の世代に伝われるように。
Kamesei Ryokan's oldest building is the 2-story structure across from the naka-niwa koi pond. The top story houses our big banquet room, and the bottom floor is a guest room and a smaller banquet room. Apparently this building was originally in neighboring Sakaki Town and 70 years was disassembled and relocated here to its present location. And supposedly, the building started out as an 'okiya' geisha house.
You know that as a building that's been around for near a century and has a history of being a geisha house, it must have its share of stories to tell.
Right now we are having the tatami mats in the big banquet room replaced. Part of the subfloor had some rot damage, so I put on my carpenters hat and fixed that section.
This was the first time I've ever seen the subfloor with the tatami mats off. The floor was a patchwork of wood planks, with a few quirks here and there.
In 2 places there were squared-off sections. My guess is that tea ceremonies were held here and this is where the pots were heated by coals.
In another place, there was a handle set in the face of a plank. After a closer look, I realized there were hinges nearby. Hmm, a hatch? Could it open? I lifted the handle and tried pulling the hatch up, and, it opened just as smoothly as could be. I was hoping there would be a hidden treasure underneath, but the space was empty.
In my mind, this whole building is a treasure. I hope I can maintain our inn so the building can tell its stories to the next generation.
