Ep 1. E 1

Ohana Matsumae is a high school girl who lives with her flighty mother in Tokyo. One day, her mother announces that she is running away with her boyfriend to avoid debt collectors and sends Ohana to live with her grandmother, whom she has never met, in a small town called Kissuiso. Ohana is initially resistant to the idea, but her mother forces her to go.

Upon arriving at the hot springs inn run by her grandmother, Sui Shijima, Ohana quickly realizes that living and working in Kissuiso will be very different from her life in Tokyo. Sui is strict and expects Ohana to work hard, including cleaning and cooking for the guests. At first, Ohana struggles to adapt to the new environment and clashes with her coworkers, Minko Tsurugi and Nako Oshimizu.

Despite the difficulties, Ohana is determined to make the best of her new life and tries to find ways to improve the inn's business. She starts by cleaning the messy guest rooms and comes up with an idea to showcase the local spring water. With the help of the head chef, Tohru Miyagishi, Ohana prepares a special dish for the guests that highlights the unique taste of Kissuiso's water.

As Ohana works hard to prove herself, she begins to learn more about her estranged mother and her own family history. She discovers that her grandmother was once a high-class geisha and that her mother was born out of wedlock. Ohana also meets her mother's childhood friend, Kouichi Tanemura, who has feelings for her but tries to keep his distance.

The episode ends with Ohana feeling a sense of accomplishment and belonging as she serves the special dish to the impressed guests. She also reflects on the challenges she has yet to face in her new life at Kissuiso.

Overall, the first episode of Hanasaku Iroha sets up the premise of a young girl navigating a new and unfamiliar environment with determination and hard work. The show explores themes of family, self-discovery, and the value of tradition and hard work. The episode's mix of drama and humor, along with charming character interactions, makes for an engaging and promising start to the series.