May 21, 2026
NUMAZU – A closed public bathhouse in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, held a rakugo storytelling event on May 2.
Four entertainers gave performances, including local amateur rakugo storyteller Inakaya Tokai. He made the most of the large bathroom’s excellent acoustics as he told the audience the rakugo story “Kamiire” (paper holder) against the backdrop of a Mt. Fuji artwork on the tiled wall. The laughter of the audience echoed in the room.
The show was part of a three-day cultural event titled Kawamachi Jikan.
The bathhouse, Yoshida Onsen, opened in 1881 and operated as the last remaining public bath in Numazu until 2016. Fifth-generation proprietor Kyoko Kaneko now repurposes the facility once every year to use as a cultural hub of the city during the Golden Week holidays.
“There’s no hot water, but I want people to feel the warm atmosphere of our bathhouse,” said Kaneko.
The event also featured concerts and art shows at which visitors were able to appreciate paintings and sculptures by local artists.