ladies; women
Honorific term for women, especially used on bathroom signs at ryokan and other traditional establishments.
The restroom at the ryokan was labeled 'Himekata' (Ladies).
Compound of 姫 (hime, 'princess; young lady') and 方 (kata, honorific suffix for persons). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it serves as a polite, somewhat old-fashioned way to refer to women.