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Do you have volcanic activity nearby? I'm assuming the vents would be from that?

How enigmatic!

We have vents about 500 metres up the hill. When the wind conditions are right we can smell the sulphur. Great for the hotsprings though.

Yes, I'm sure the hotsprings are wonderful. Will you take advantage of the hotsprings when you redesign your bath house? I'm intrigued by what a bath house would contain. (I'm going from memory but I think that is what you called the small building adjacent to your home.)

There is already a hinoki bath in the studio (the white building in the pics, which will be the bath house). Hinoki is a much prized wood for its aromatic qualities. It is also almost impervious to water, so is pretty much perfect for making a bath. We have natural onsen water piped in to both Shadowlands (the main hosue) and the studio. Everytime the house is bought and sold the buyers have to purchase the 'right' to have the onsen water piped to them from the nearest vent. This is pretty expensive. There is also a yearly fee, and every 10 or so years a larger payment for replacing the pipes (they get a beating from the extremely hot water and all the minerals it contains). But, it is all worth it. The bath house we are planning (with a time scale of about 5 years), will be traditional; a large bath, spanning both inside and outside onto a veranda, made of natural stone. I guess about 10 times the cubic capacity of a normal bath. It will have a washing area (you must always wash thoroughly before entering the bath in the Japanese culture). Adjacent to it we will have a changing room fitted out with bamboo, hinoki, tsugi, and other untreated woods, and of course with tatami mat flooring. The bath house will also have a 6-8 jo (1 jo = 1 tatami mat) room for guests who will sleep on futons. It will probably also have a traditional stove (sunken in the middle of the floor) with a chain from the ceiling from which a large cooking pot is usually suspended). Sorry, my memory of the Japanese for these items is patchy. There will be a genkan (sunken entrance lobby), fitted with slate floor tiles, and if we can run to it an external corridor with sliding doors onto the Japanese garden (again, this has a particular architectural name, but it escapes me). Those are our plans, at least. ptarotuos

You have taken on a most interesting project with your bath house, Ptarotuos...it all sounds very spectacular. I didn't know exactly what the bath house would contain so your informative blog really helped me to picture what it would be like. It will be a very indulgent and relaxing situation on completion.

I should share with you my crazy experience of a traditional Japanese restaurant in Vancouver many years ago. I had a broken leg with a cast from toes to thigh. Not realizing that I would have to get my leg under the sunken table and sit on cushions it was not a pretty sight getting sorted out. I did manage it but it caused a few laughs. Couldn't bend my leg you see...lol

It will be great if you can include sliding doors into the garden...a very good plan.

I hope you'll keep us updated as you progress. I am very intrigued, Ptarotuos. Thank you for your patience in explaining too.