客室も母屋もがれきに…火事で全焼した秘湯「野中温泉」無事だった硫黄泉を守りたい…“看板猫”とともに再建目指す　北海道足寄町

Nonaka Onsen, located in Ashoro Town in Hokkaido's Tokachi region, is known as a "hidden hot spring." Despite the building's near-total destruction in January, the inn is beginning to move toward reopening, thanks to its mascot cat. Located at the foot of Mount Meakan, Nonaka Onsen Mountain Inn boasts a 112-year history. Known for its abundant hot springs and mascot cats, it's beloved by hikers and locals alike. However, on the evening of January 23rd, everything changed. A fire that appeared to have started in the kitchen spread throughout the inn, burning it almost completely to the ground. There were no guests at the time, and owner Yuko Nonaka, who lived there, managed to escape to safety, but... Yuko Nonaka, Owner of Nonaka Onsen Mountain Inn "We kept calling out to them, but they were hard to find, and our only remaining cat, Dota, hasn't come out yet. He was timid, so I think he was very scared." Five of the unharmed cats took refuge at Nonaka's sister's house. Currently, only one cat, a Siamese, remains at Nonaka Onsen. The main house is reduced to black rubble. The guest rooms are covered in soot and a burnt smell hangs in the air. Most of Nonaka's belongings were also burned. With electricity and water still cut off, there's no clear path to reopening. But there's still hope. The hotel's proud sulfur spring, which flows directly from the source, was safe. Yuko Nonaka, Representative of Nonaka Onsen Mountain Inn "We decided to start from this, so we cleaned it up step by step. It was muddy, so everyone helped clean it up." Local volunteers also rushed to the scene to help remove the rubble. Noboru Yamashita "Nonaka Onsen has been here since it was built, so we want it to be maintained. We want it to be rebuilt." Locals aren't the only ones hoping for a reopening. After the fire, fans from all over the country expressed concern for Nonaka and her cats. In response to these voices, Nonaka-san is sharing videos of her cats' ever-healthy lives. Yuko Nonaka, Owner of Nonaka Onsen Mountain Inn "We've received encouraging messages like, 'It's tough, but do your best,' and, 'If you ever need anything, we'll come to you anytime.' I'm so grateful that saying 'thank you' seems cliched." The hot springs that have soothed the minds and bodies of so many are now moving forward, step by step, supported by warm feelings. Updated Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 7:18 PM #Hokkaido #News #HBC ◆Please subscribe to the HBC News channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCTp