Ikaho Report

Map of Japan

I'll quote from the book "Kataritsukuse Netsuai-Jidai"

Hirai	"You discribed that scene of the hot spring in Masion Ikkoku without going there, didn't you?"
Takahashi	"I went there. I went to Ikaho with close friends in the New Year's holidays. The editer seemed to think it was his disadvantage to leave that event unless making an episode, and said "Can you make an episode used scene of the hot spring?" So I think it was a good trip for me."

Ikaho hot spring is famous for the stone steps. It's 300 meters high, it has 360 of steps. It's very symbol of Ikaho. The residents of Maison Ikkoku went up this step road to get INN. I cannot find the same place with ones where Godai was climbing with saying "Not really". But I think these two places looks alike most. Here are the middle of the stone steps.

Stone steps	Stone steps

This's the point of stone steps where Godai was climbing with everyone's baggages on his back. He was saying "Why did I let her talk me into a spa...?" (Please click this photo, you can see a big photo.)
We can find the signboard "Shiseido cosmetics" on the right side of steps in comics. I could find new designed one in 2001, but it disappeared in 2002.
And we can find there's the same designed signboard and lantern with comics on the left side of steps. But the signboard of "Kotobuki" in comics changes one of "Snack Tsurukame" now, the signboard of "Shizuka Snack" in comics changes menu table of snack now. Were these same with comics in those days? Or did Rumiko Takahashi rewrote it? I cannot judge.
And I can find "Snack Tsurukame" in the final frame of this episode in comics.

Steps where Godai was climbing	The signboard of Shiseido

The place where Mitaka was standing

And this's said the place where Mitaka overlooked Godai and said "Still all the way down here?". Because we can find a signboard of "Manju"(a Japanese bun with a bean-jam filling) in comis. This shop "Tanaka-ya" is an old established shop that famous for Manju.

Kokuya INN

Which Inn did they stayed in Ikaho? A member of Maison Ikkoku ML says it's Kokuya INN. He judged so with this three reasons.
(1) The mark of Kokuya INN is same as one(on yukata and teacups) of INN they stayed.
(2) The bath of Kokuya INN is very similar to one of their INN.
(3) Kokuya INN is also in the position of top of the Stone steps road.

I also have a chance to stay Kokuya INN. And I must say, first of all, Kokuya Inn is high-grade hotel. It's quite different from the cheap INN they stayed.
Kokuya INN has main and anex, and anex was built in 1992. So I thought the model building of their INN is main building of Kokuya INN.

Bathroom with a view of Kokuya INN

In the bathroom of Kokuya INN there are two bath tub. We can take a good look of Mt.Akagi. So I judge the bath of Kokuya INN is very like their INN.
Why are there two bath tub? It's because Ikaho hot spring have two sources. One is dark brown water, the other is colorless water.

The mark of Kokuya INN

And I could find the mark (family crest) of Kokuya INN used in many places, such as on the wall of building, on the sighboard, on the table of each room, on the bathmat...

To conclude, Rumiko Takahashi may have stayed in Kokuya INN before, and took this hotel as a model of INN where the residents of Maison Ikkoku stayd.