Remains of a sauna have been discovered at the site of famous feudal warlord Nobunaga Oda's 16th century residence, a local research body has announced.
The steam bath was found at the ruins of Nijo-Goshinzo residence in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward, which belonged to Oda, one of the most powerful figures of Japan's warring states period.
An official at the Kyoto City Archaeological Research Institute pointed out that, "It's possible that the warlord welcomed his guests with a steam bath and tea ceremony back then."
The bathhouse was about seven by six meters in size. A U-shaped furnace and a stone foundation, measuring 1.1 by 1.7 meters and 1.5 by 1.8 meters, respectively, were also found inside the building. The furnace was dug down to around 50 centimeters below ground level and surrounded by stones.
Researchers determined the remains were from the 16th century based on the earthenware discovered along with the structure. They have also excavated a well and another furnace used for footbaths.
According to the institute, holding a tea ceremony after a bath was popular among upper class people of that time. The unearthed sauna reportedly has almost the same architectural features as those of the Okaku-dai, the nation's oldest bathhouse from the Azuchi-Momoyama Period -- now at Nishi-Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto's Shimogyo Ward and believed to have been relocated from warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Jurakudai palace.
The Nijo-Goshinzo residence was constructed by Oda in 1576, after he took over the land from the Nijo, a noble family of the time. The sauna was built at a point where the warlord could view his favorite garden. The residence was burned down six years later during the Honno-ji Incident, in which both Oda and his eldest son Nobutada were killed.
The remains of Ryuyaku Pond -- depicted in the Rakuchu-Rakugai-zu folding screens portraying sceneries of the ancient capital city -- were discovered in the garden in 2002; however, it is the first time that a part of the actual residence has been found.
Source: Mainichi Daily News