Yamanaka Onsen

What to know

Yamanaka Onsen is a small resort town nestled along the Kakusenkei Gorge and is one of the four hot spring towns that form Kaga Onsen. Its springs were discovered over 1,300 years ago by the monk Gyoki and have long been renowned for their excellent water quality. The famous poet and traveler Matsuo Basho even praised Yamanaka as one of Japan's three finest hot springs, alongside Kusatsu Onsen and Arima Onsen.

The waters of Yamanaka Onsen are believed to relieve muscle and joint pain, speed recovery from illness, and improve overall health. You can experience them at Kikunoyu, the town's public bathhouse. This facility consists of two separate buildings—one for men and one for women—set around a nicely designed plaza in the town center.

Yamanaka's downtown area stretches from the public bath to many of the town's larger hotels and ryokan, lined with shops and restaurants along the way. The main street has been renovated with buried power lines and traditionally styled storefronts. In contrast, the narrow lanes branching off offer a pleasantly quaint glimpse of an old Japanese town.

The Kakusenkei Gorge runs parallel to the town, just a few blocks from the center. It is crossed by several bridges, including a beautiful wooden bridge at one end and a modern, quirky steel bridge at the other. A 15- to 20-minute forested trail leads from either bridge down into the gorge and along the river, providing a tranquil escape from the town above.

Yamanaka is known for various local crafts, especially Yamanaka Lacquerware. This lacquerware has been produced here for over 400 years and is characterized by fine hand-engraved designs. Visitors can learn about the lacquering process and purchase local products at the Urushiza museum and shop at the entrance to the town.

Yamanaka is also famous for the Yamanaka-bushi folk song, which originated in the port towns of Hokkaido and was brought here by traders stopping at nearby Hashidate Port. Yamanaka-bushi is performed on weekends at the Yamanaka-za theater, a beautiful venue located in the same building complex as the women's bath of the Kikunoyu public bathhouse.