A company operating accommodation facilities in Ikeda Onsen, Gifu Prefecture, has been declared bankrupt.

According to research, “Tachikawa” in Ikeda Town received a bankruptcy commencement decision from the Gifu District Court on October 3.

“Tachikawa” was operating lodging facilities and restaurants at “Ikeda Onsen Shinkan” under contract from the town.

However, after falling behind on facility usage fees payable to the town, it suddenly ceased operations in July this year.

The total debt amount is currently under investigation but is estimated to potentially reach 200 million yen.

The large public bath operated by Ikeda Town continues to operate as usual.

Ikeda Onsen

Ikeda Onsen is a historic hot spring town located in Ikeda City, on Japan’s Shikoku Island. Its origins date back over 1,200 years, having been discovered by the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in the 9th century. The onsen is renowned for its alkaline waters, which are said to be beneficial for the skin and for relieving neuralgia and muscle pain.

Gifu Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture is a mountainous region in central Japan renowned for its traditional cormorant fishing (ukai) on the Nagara River, a practice dating back over 1,300 years. It is also famous for the historic villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, UNESCO World Heritage Sites known for their unique thatched-roof gassho-zukuri farmhouses. The prefecture’s history is deeply tied to the Sengoku period, as it was a key domain of the powerful Oda Nobunaga, who unified much of Japan from his base at Gifu Castle.

Ikeda Town

Ikeda Town is a municipality in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, historically known as a post-station town on the ancient Tanba Kaido trade route. It is famously the birthplace of instant noodles, as Momofuku Ando invented them there at his company, Nissin Foods. Today, the town is home to the CupNoodles Museum, which celebrates this culinary innovation.

Gifu District Court

The Gifu District Court is a judicial body located in Gifu City, Japan, established as part of the country’s modern legal system in the Meiji era. It handles civil, criminal, and administrative cases for the Gifu Prefecture region, operating under the broader framework of Japan’s national court system.

Tachikawa

Tachikawa is a city in western Tokyo, Japan, that transformed from a small agricultural town into a major urban center. Its modern history was heavily shaped by the former Tachikawa Air Base, a key military installation for the Imperial Japanese Army and later the US Air Force after World War II. Following the base’s partial return in the 1970s, the area has been redeveloped into commercial and residential districts, including the popular Tachikawa Ki no Mori Park.

Ikeda Onsen Shinkan

Ikeda Onsen Shinkan is a traditional hot spring inn located in Ikeda, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It has a long history, with its origins tracing back to the Edo period, when it was established to serve travelers and pilgrims. The inn is renowned for its therapeutic waters and offers a classic Japanese onsen experience in a historic setting.