料亭旅館「半月庵」山口県・"Hangetsuan"Yamaguchi Pref.

料亭旅館「半月庵」、山口県岩国市

明治二年創業の由緒ある料亭旅館「半月庵」の前身は江戸時代・岩国藩の上級武家の武家屋敷で茶室も備えていた。建物は平成時代にモダンな鉄筋コンクリートに建て替えられたが、庭は江戸時代の姿のまま残されている。小さな池と大きな山燈籠が印象的なこの庭は茶室の露地も兼ねている。庭と共に築地塀や門などが江戸時代の面影をとどめ歴史を物語る。茶室は鉄筋コンクリートの建物の中に新しく作られたが、京都から招聘された数寄屋師による渾身の設えは見事の一言で、目を見張るばかりである。料亭の名前にちなんだ半月型の窓、左官の技術の高さを物語る色違いの模様が浮き出た壁、名栗が施された抽象彫刻さがらの六角の中柱など、凝った設えの数々は侘びと雅の両面を兼ね備えた茶室である。また躙口の他にも貴人口が設けられ、あらゆる流派に開かれている。

ところでこの「半月庵」は宇野千代の名作「おはん」の舞台となった料亭として名高い。宇野千代の家系は代々岩国で、その生家は半月庵から徒歩１０分程。父親が頻繁に半月庵を利用していたことから宇野千代自身もこの料亭の馴染客となった。館内には宇野千代の文学資料が展示され、宿泊者が浴衣の上に羽織る丹前も着物デザイナーでもあった宇野千代をイメージしている。また宇野千代にちなんだ特別室「さくら」の窓からは、すぐ目の前に庭の紅葉を眺めることができる。また春には桜が窓いっぱいに咲き誇る。「半月庵」は宿泊や夕食以外にも昼食だけの利用もできるので、岩国観光の際に食事利用で立ち寄ることも可能。徒歩圏内にある「宇野千代生家」とあわせて巡りたい。

■名称：料亭・旅館 「半月庵」

■住所：山口県岩国市岩国1丁目17-27

■TEL : 0827-41-0021（電話受付：10時～22時）FAX.0827-43-0121

■開店時間：昼11時～14時（LO13時50分）夜 17時半～22時

※この施設の庭園・茶室は宿泊・食事の利用者のみに公開されています。

またその際に茶室の見学を希望する場合は予約時にあらかじめ申し出てください。

■駐車場 : 有り

"Hangetsuan" Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

The predecessor of Hangetsu-an, a traditional Japanese restaurant and inn founded in 1877, was a samurai residence of a senior samurai family of the Iwakuni domain in the Edo period, and also had a tea room. The building was rebuilt with modern reinforced concrete in the Heisei period, but the garden remains as it was in the Edo period. This impressive garden with a small pond and a large mountain lantern also serves as the tea room garden "Roji". Open the small bamboo door “Sjiorido” and walk over stepping stones to reach the tea room. The walls and gates with tiled roofs, together with the small garden, retain the atmosphere of the Edo period and tell us the history.

The tea-ceremony room was newly constructed in a reinforced concrete building. The half-moon shaped window named after the ryokan, the walls with patterns of different colors that show the high level of the plasterer's skill, the hexagonal pillars that look like abstract sculptures with Naguri processing, and many other elaborate facilities. It is a tea room that combines both wabi-sabi and elegance. In addition to the nijiriguchi, there is also a kiniguchi, which is open to all schools of tea ceremony.

By the way, this "Hangetsuan" became the model for "Ohan", a masterpiece by novelist Chiyo Uno (1897-1996). Chiyo Uno's family has been in Iwakuni for generations, and her birthplace is about a 10-minute walk from Hangetsuan. Chiyo Uno herself became a regular customer of this restaurant because her father frequently used Hangetsuan. The literary materials of Chiyo Uno are displayed in the hall, and the Tanzen worn by the guests of this ryokan on top of the yukata is an image of Chiyo Uno. From the window of the special room "Sakura" named after Chiyo Uno, you can see the autumn leaves of the garden right in front of you. In spring, cherry blossoms fill the windows. "Hangetsuan" can be used not only for accommodation and dinner, but also for lunch, so you can stop by for meals when sightseeing in Iwakuni. The Birthplace of Chiyo Uno, which is within walking distance from there, also has a garden, so don't forget to visit it.

■ Name: Ryotei Ryokan "Hangetsuan"

■ Address: 1-17-27 Iwakuni, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

■ TEL: 0827-41-0021 (Telephone reception: 10:00 to 22:00) FAX.0827-43-0121

Opening hours: Lunch 11:00-14:00 (LO 13:50) Night 17:30-22:00

(Sometimes breakfast is served to general users)

*The garden and tea room of this facility are open to the public only for guests staying or dining.

Also, if you would like a tour of the tea room at that time, please let the restaurant know in advance when making a reservation.

■ Parking lot : Available