This public bathhouse features an elegant Tenpyo-style structure. It stands on the site where a yuzaya has been built since the discovery of hot spring water, and the men’s and women’s baths are located adjacent to each other in separate buildings.
The men’s bath is a massive Tenpyo-style building with a waist-deep bathtub. On the other hand, the women’s bath is a gorgeous, gracefully curved structure with shallow and deep bathtubs.
The walls of the public bathhouse are decorated with a portion of the “Yamanaka Onsen Engi Emaki” (Yamanaka Onsen auspicious scroll) copied with Kutani ware tiles, creating a gorgeous atmosphere.
The Yamanakaza, a Yamanaka-bushi (traditional Japanese folk song) theater, is located adjacent to Onna-yu, allowing visitors to experience the culture of Yamanaka Onsen.
The source and history praised by Basho
The famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho praised the hot spring water when he visited during his travels,
He is known to have composed the poem “Yamanaka-ya Chrysanthemum no tebirajisu (The smell of hot spring water)”.
Chrysanthemums have antibacterial properties and have been a representative plant symbolizing longevity since ancient times, and are the flower of autumn. The phrase means that even if Yamanaka Onsen does not rely on the power of chrysanthemums, breathing in the fragrance of this hot spring water seems to be sufficient for longevity.
So-yu “Kiku-no-yu,” named after the famous phrase, is located at the base of Yamanaka Onsen and has been the center of the hot spring resort for more than 1,300 years since its opening.
The hot spring soaks into the core of the body, and has been enjoyed by many people for its various effects that soothe the body and soul.
Fusion of Onsen and Culture
The Yamanaka-za Theater is located next to the women’s bathhouse, with an eye-catching coffered ceiling made of Yamanaka lacquerware.
The Yamanaka-za Theater, next to the women’s bathhouse, has an eye-catching vaulted ceiling made of Yamanaka lacquerware. Geiko from Yamanaka Onsen perform “Yamanaka-bushi Four Seasons Dance,” allowing visitors to enjoy the culture of Yamanaka along with the hot spring baths.
In addition, visitors can try their hand at making onsen tamago (hot spring eggs) at the onsen tamago boiling place in front of the men’s bathhouse, allowing them to fully enjoy the onsen and the charms of Yamanaka.
Onsen Spring Quality
The spring water is calcium sodium monosulfate spring water with a temperature of 48.3 degrees Celsius.
This hot spring is said to be effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, bruises, chronic digestive diseases, hemorrhoids, sensitivity to cold, recovery from illness and fatigue, health promotion, arteriosclerosis, cuts, burns, chronic skin diseases, motor paralysis, and more.
The spring can also be drunk and is said to be good for gallstones, chronic constipation, obesity, diabetes, and gout.
6:45 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
2nd and 4th Wednesdays (closed the next day if the Wednesday is a national holiday)
Adults (12 years old and over): 490 yen
Middle-aged visitors (6 to 12 years old) 130 yen
Child (3 years old and over, under 6 years old) 50 yen
Free for children under 3 years old
From JR Kaga Onsen Station, take the Kaga Shuttle Bus bound for Canbasan → 19 Yamanaka Onsen Kikunoyu/Yamanakaza bus stop, approx. 25 meters from Yamanaka Onsen Kikunoyu/Yamanakaza bus stop.
From JR Kaga Onsen Station, take Hokutetsu Kaga Bus Onsen Yamanaka Line (bus stop #2), approx. 35 min. → 500 meters from Yamanaka Onsen Bus Terminal bus stop
From JR Kaga Onsen Station, take the Hokutetsu Kaga Bus bound for Kayano (platform 2) on the Onsen Yamanaka Line (approx. 35 mins) → approx. 50 meters from Kikunoyu-mae bus stop