Plainly put, simply grand

 　　Nowhere is Japan's quiet luxury more evident than in its onsen ryokans - traditional inns with hot springs - Ou Shuyi finds

　　Japan's charm is often compared to that of the ideal beauty, subtle and elusive¹ - you can hardly resist it even though you cannot fully² understand it. Here, beauty lies in the depth of simplicity³ and comes in tiny packages: the dessert plates on dinner tables, the straw smell of the tatami mats on the floor.

　　This is a world of quiet luxury, with nary a trace of flashiness, every detail deliciously exquisite⁴ in its utter simplicity.

　　I got to experience this understated elegance⁵ and luxury at Asaba, one of the country's best onsen ryokans (Japanese-style inn with hot springs), during my recent trip to Japan.

　　Nestled in the mountainous town of Shuzenji on the Izu peninsula, about two hours by train from Tokyo, the 510-year-old inn has been run by the Asaba family for 10 generations and is a good marriage of history and nature, of the traditional and the modern.

　　The entrance is so inconspicuous - a wooden gate at the end of a narrow path - we think we have wandered up to the front door of someone's house.

　　However, as with many things in Japan, size quickly becomes unimportant amid the expansive charm and elegance we encounter inside.

　　Japanese hospitality fills every nook and cranny. Kimono-clad staff greet us like old friends, with their gracious deep bows and pleasant smiles. The personalized service of the housemaids is unobtrusive and effective.

　　Plainly put, simply grand

　　Slippers⁶ appear as soon as we take off our shoes at the door. Hot towels, green tea and sweets appear one after another while we wait in the lobby. Guided by another round of bows, we are led to our suite⁷. No language is needed - everything is perfectly⁸ understood.

　　Built in traditional Japanese style, the complex is defined by its intricate, carved landscape. A well-tended garden, surrounded by a bamboo grove⁹, with a pond at its heart, is like a piece of living artwork, every detail meticulously¹⁰ crafted. Beyond the pond is a stage, built with cypress¹¹ wood at the end of Meiji era (1868-1912), where traditional Noh plays and modern productions are staged.

　　A large open-air pool, enclosed by smooth rocks, juts¹² into the pond. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful landscape while taking a dip in the steaming water of a natural hot spring.

　　Creaking wooden corridors and stairs lead to 19 guest suites¹³, each with a poetic¹⁴ name - instead of a number - and each with a fantastic view. Inside, the room's minimalist style features clean, uncomplicated lines. Woven-rattan chairs covered in indigo-cotton cushions are arranged around a low lacquered table. A recessed¹⁵ alcove¹⁶ with a hanging scroll¹⁷ serves as the centerpiece.

　　Plainly put, simply grand

　　Asaba may be ancient, but it certainly is not outdated¹⁸. It has quietly moved with the times while preserving its proudest traditions. From the floor heating to the modern bathrooms, visitors can sense a comfort that rivals that of any five-star hotel around the world.

　　On a table next to the pebbled¹⁹ entranceway, I notice a black leather Hermes desk pad. Kazuhide Asaba, the family's eldest²⁰ son, says he wants to transform the inn into the kind of place he himself would want to stay in. A bar-cum-reading-room outfitted²¹ with Bertoia chairs and a collection of books on art and fashion photography hints at his ambitions.

　　"Every year we keep improving our suites to meet the market demand," says Airi Asaba, Kazuhide's younger sister and the only English-speaking staff member in Asaba. The 40-year-old had once worked with Japan Travel Bureau in Tokyo, and the experience has helped a lot with the management of Asaba.

　　Most of the ryokans in Shuzenji, a town of 17,000, are family businesses. Local tourism was severely²² hit by the global economic downtown last year. About 20 of the ryokans were closed, leaving only 20 still in business. Asaba also saw a 15 percent decrease in business.

　　Usually, the inn receives about 8,000 visitors every year, most of them Japanese. To expand its potential market, Asaba has recently cooperated with Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo. The two-night Asaba Package, promoted by Shangri-La, is expected to bring more new guests to this age-old inn.

　　"We had been looking for a partner ryokan for a long time. Asaba's age-old history, picturesque²³ location and high-quality service make it a jewel among thousands of ryokans," says Stanley Tan, sales and marketing²⁴ director of Shangri-La, Tokyo.

　　The apex²⁵ of our short stay in Asaba is the dinner. Sitting in our yukatas (Japanese cotton garment) at a low table, we are served plate after plate of local delicacies²⁶. Each is arranged on special ceramic²⁷ plates and lacquer ware²⁸.

　　The 12 courses, including steamed yuba (tofu skin), fried bamboo shoot, sashimi of tuna, grilled²⁹ lotus, eel³⁰ sushi with black rice, chicken soup, and pumpkin³¹ and ginger³² ice cream, are a feast for both the eyes and taste buds.

　　No appetite will go unsatisfied here and the unique and tranquil³³ dining experience can enchant³⁴ the most jaded³⁵ gourmet³⁶.

　　For years Asaba has drawn³⁷ the rich, the powerful and the famous, including former President of France, Jacques Chirac.

　　Of course, the $400 a night charge may be too much for most travelers. But the sheer delight of staying somewhere so lush in its simplicity and experiencing the best of Japanese hospitality is worth every penny.

　　Life> Travel

　　Plainly put, simply grand

　　By Ou Shuyi (China Daily)

　　Updated: 2010-04-05 08:52

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　　'As soon as the water touches my skin, all stress melts away'

　　Asaba Ryokan's outdoor hot-spring pool has a sign that says, "No swimming suits".

　　Intimidated³⁸ at first - it is too embarrassing to strip down in front of a bunch of strangers - I decide to have a go early in the morning.

　　I'm up at 6 and head to the pool. It is raining and a little bit cold, but the pool is absolutely empty.

　　Perfect! Actually, even better than perfect. The thin drizzle³⁹ shrouds⁴⁰ the garden and the bamboo grove around the pool in a mist, even as steam rises above the piping hot water, creating a magical, dream-like scene.

　　I lower myself gingerly into the water and as soon as the water touches my skin, I feel all my stress melt away.

　　Bathing is serious business in Japan. The Japanese insist that their springs, located in one of the most volcanically⁴¹ active zones on Earth, can ease everything from arthritis⁴² to skin disease.

　　"We Japanese find few things more relaxing than taking a hot bath," says Airi Asaba, executive manager of Asaba Ryokan.

　　The hot springs in Shuzenji, where Asaba is located, are one of the oldest in the country. According to folklore⁴³, a Buddhist⁴⁴ monk⁴⁵ Kukai magically transformed the rushing waters of a river from cold to hot, some 1,200 years ago.

　　For centuries, legions of stressed-out Japanese have traveled to this small town to take a curative dip.

　　Sitting alone in the steaming pool, I close my eyes and let the water work its magic. Barring the steady plop of raindrops, nothing breaks the silence as every muscle in my body goes limp with contentment.

1 elusive   

adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的

参考例句：

• Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。
• Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 simplicity   

n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯

参考例句：

• She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
• The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。

4 exquisite   

adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的

参考例句：

• I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
• I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。

5 elegance   

n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙

参考例句：

• The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
• John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。

6 slippers   

n. 拖鞋

参考例句：

• a pair of slippers 一双拖鞋
• He kicked his slippers off and dropped on to the bed. 他踢掉了拖鞋，倒在床上。

7 suite   

n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员

参考例句：

• She has a suite of rooms in the hotel.她在那家旅馆有一套房间。
• That is a nice suite of furniture.那套家具很不错。

8 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

9 grove   

n.林子，小树林，园林

参考例句：

• On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
• The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。

10 meticulously   

adv.过细地，异常细致地；无微不至；精心

参考例句：

• The hammer's silvery head was etched with holy runs and its haft was meticulously wrapped in blue leather. 锤子头是纯银制成的，雕刻着神圣符文，而握柄则被精心地包裹在蓝色的皮革中。 来自辞典例句
• She is always meticulously accurate in punctuation and spelling. 她的标点和拼写总是非常精确。 来自辞典例句

11 cypress   

n.柏树

参考例句：

• The towering pine and cypress trees defy frost and snow.松柏参天傲霜雪。
• The pine and the cypress remain green all the year round.苍松翠柏，常绿不凋。

12 juts   

v.（使）突出( jut的第三人称单数 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出

参考例句：

• A small section of rock juts out into the harbour. 山岩的一小角突入港湾。 来自辞典例句
• The balcony juts out over the swimming pool. 阳台伸出在游泳池上方。 来自辞典例句

13 suites   

n.套( suite的名词复数 )；一套房间；一套家具；一套公寓

参考例句：

• First he called upon all the Foreign Ministers in their hotel suites. 他首先到所有外交部长住的旅馆套间去拜访。 来自辞典例句
• All four doors to the two reserved suites were open. 预定的两个套房的四扇门都敞开着。 来自辞典例句

14 poetic   

adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的

参考例句：

• His poetic idiom is stamped with expressions describing group feeling and thought.他的诗中的措辞往往带有描写群体感情和思想的印记。
• His poetic novels have gone through three different historical stages.他的诗情小说创作经历了三个不同的历史阶段。

15 recessed   

v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的过去式和过去分词 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭

参考例句：

• My rooms were large, with deeply recessed windows and painted, eighteenth-century panellin. 我住的房间很宽敞，有向里凹陷很深的窗户，油漆过的十八世纪的镶花地板。 来自辞典例句
• The Geneva meeting recessed while Kennety and Khrushchev met in Vienna. 肯尼迪同赫鲁晓夫在维也纳会晤时，日内瓦会议已经休会。 来自辞典例句

16 alcove   

n.凹室

参考例句：

• The bookcase fits neatly into the alcove.书架正好放得进壁凹。
• In the alcoves on either side of the fire were bookshelves.火炉两边的凹室里是书架。

17 scroll   

n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡

参考例句：

• As I opened the scroll,a panorama of the Yellow River unfolded.我打开卷轴时，黄河的景象展现在眼前。
• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements.他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。

18 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

19 pebbled   

用卵石铺（pebble的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• And quick to the white-pebbled bottom it fell! 接着它飞快地回落到白色卵石的井底潺潺！
• Outside, the rain had stopped but the glass was still pebbled with bright drops. 窗外的雨已经停了，但玻璃上还是布满明亮的水珠。

20 eldest   

adj.最年长的，最年老的

参考例句：

• The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

21 outfitted   

v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They outfitted for the long journey. 他们为远途旅行准备装束。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They outfitted him with artificial legs. 他们为他安了假腿。 来自辞典例句

22 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

23 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

24 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

25 apex   

n.顶点，最高点

参考例句：

• He reached the apex of power in the early 1930s.他在三十年代初达到了权力的顶峰。
• His election to the presidency was the apex of his career.当选总统是他一生事业的顶峰。

26 delicacies   

n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到

参考例句：

• Its flesh has exceptional delicacies. 它的肉异常鲜美。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• After these delicacies, the trappers were ready for their feast. 在享用了这些美食之后，狩猎者开始其大餐。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗

27 ceramic   

n.制陶业，陶器，陶瓷工艺

参考例句：

• The order for ceramic tiles has been booked in.瓷砖的订单已登记下来了。
• Some ceramic works of art are shown in this exhibition.这次展览会上展出了一些陶瓷艺术品。

28 ware   

n.(常用复数)商品，货物

参考例句：

• The shop sells a great variety of porcelain ware.这家店铺出售品种繁多的瓷器。
• Good ware will never want a chapman.好货不须叫卖。

29 grilled   

adj. 烤的, 炙过的, 有格子的 动词grill的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• He was grilled for two hours before the police let him go. 他被严厉盘查了两个小时后，警察才放他走。
• He was grilled until he confessed. 他被严加拷问，直到他承认为止。

30 eel   

n.鳗鲡

参考例句：

• He used an eel spear to catch an eel.他用一只捕鳗叉捕鳗鱼。
• In Suzhou,there was a restaurant that specialized in eel noodles.苏州有一家饭馆，他们那里的招牌菜是鳗鱼面。

31 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

32 ginger   

n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气

参考例句：

• There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
• Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。

33 tranquil   

adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的

参考例句：

• The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。
• The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。

34 enchant   

vt.使陶醉，使入迷；使着魔，用妖术迷惑

参考例句：

• The spectacle of the aurora may appear to dazzle and enchant the observer's eyes.极光的壮丽景色的出现,会使观察者为之眩目和迷惑。
• Her paintings possess the power to enchant one if one is fortunate enough to see her work and hear her music.如果你有幸能欣赏她的作品，“聆听”她的音乐，她的作品将深深地迷住你。

35 jaded   

adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的

参考例句：

• I felt terribly jaded after working all weekend. 整个周末工作之后我感到疲惫不堪。
• Here is a dish that will revive jaded palates. 这道菜简直可以恢复迟钝的味觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

36 gourmet   

n.食物品尝家；adj.出于美食家之手的

参考例句：

• What does a gourmet writer do? 美食评论家做什么？
• A gourmet like him always eats in expensive restaurants.像他这样的美食家总是到豪华的餐馆用餐。

37 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

38 intimidated   

v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的

参考例句：

• We try to make sure children don't feel intimidated on their first day at school. 我们努力确保孩子们在上学的第一天不胆怯。
• The thief intimidated the boy into not telling the police. 这个贼恫吓那男孩使他不敢向警察报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

39 drizzle   

v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨

参考例句：

• The shower tailed off into a drizzle.阵雨越来越小，最后变成了毛毛雨。
• Yesterday the radio forecast drizzle,and today it is indeed raining.昨天预报有小雨，今天果然下起来了。

40 shrouds   

n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密

参考例句：

• 'For instance,' returned Madame Defarge, composedly,'shrouds.' “比如说，”德伐日太太平静地回答，“裹尸布。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• Figure 3-10 illustrates the result of a study or conical shrouds. 图3-10表明了对锥形外壳的研究结果。 来自辞典例句

41 volcanically   

adv.火山似地，猛烈地

参考例句：

42 arthritis   

n.关节炎

参考例句：

• Rheumatoid arthritis has also been linked with the virus.风湿性关节炎也与这种病毒有关。
• He spent three months in the hospital with acute rheumatic arthritis.他患急性风湿性关节炎，在医院住了三个月。

43 folklore   

n.民间信仰，民间传说，民俗

参考例句：

• Zhuge Liang is a synonym for wisdom in folklore.诸葛亮在民间传说中成了智慧的代名词。
• In Chinese folklore the bat is an emblem of good fortune.在中国的民间传说中蝙蝠是好运的象征。

44 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

45 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。