Yamanaka Onsen

Located in a corner of Kaga Onsen-kyo, Yamanaka Onsen is a hot spring resort with a long history. Surrounded by mountains, the hot spring town also offers a rural mountain atmosphere with its natural mountains, valleys, and rivers. The town is lined with inns along the Daishoji River valley and other areas.

Yamanaka Onsen Attractions

Yamanaka Onsen, literally “in the mountains,” is an area with a valley called Tsurusenkei. The Korogibashi Bridge and the uniquely shaped Ayatori Bridge are the symbols of the town.

There are also day-trip bathing facilities available, so feel free to drop by.

Yamanaka Onsen is also the hometown of Yamanaka lacquerware, and the beautiful grain of the wood created by woodworkers is fascinating to see. In the center of the hot spring resort area, there are souvenir shops, galleries, sake breweries, and long-established shops selling Japanese confectionaries, creating a lively atmosphere.

Onsen and Public Bathhouse

In Yamanaka Onsen, there used to be no indoor hot spring baths at the inns, but public bathhouses were used. Currently, there is a public bathhouse called So-yu “Kiku-no-yu.

Kiku-no-yu features a large bathtub, and a portion of “Yamanaka Onsen Engi Emaki” (Yamanaka Onsen auspicious scroll) is copied on the wall with Kutani Yaki tiles. There is also a hot spring below the bathhouse, which was named “Kiku-no-yu” after a haiku written by Basho, a Japanese poet.

There is also the Yamanaka-za Theater and a footbath around the public bathhouse, and various events are held at the Yamanaka-za Theater. The Yamanakaza is a symbol of the hot spring resort town and attracts visitors with its lobby and gorgeous maki-e ceiling decorated with the finest Yamanaka lacquerware.

Legend of the Opening of Yamanaka Onsen

Yamanaka Onsen has a very long history. It is said that Gyoki, a high priest of the Nara period (710-794), discovered it about 1,300 years ago. Gyoki carved Yakushi Buddha on a tree stump and built a shrine to protect the hot spring. It is said that many people visited Yamanaka Onsen and healed their illnesses and fatigue in its hot springs.

The Beginning of Yamanaka Onsen Ryokan

Time passed, and it was around the end of the Heian period (794-1185) when the area was devastated by warfare. Noburen Hasebe, a landowner in Noto, found a white heron healing its injured leg in a small river.

When he dug up the spot, a statue of Yakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha) measuring about 5” (15 cm) appeared, and a beautiful hot spring gushed out. Hasebe Noburen built 12 inns there, which is said to be the beginning of Yamanaka Onsen Ryokan.

Matsuo Basho stayed there

Further, time passed in the Genroku period (about 300 years ago). Matsuo Basho, a famous haiku poet, visited Yamanaka Onsen during his travels. Matsuo Basho was so impressed by the famous hot spring that he stayed there for eight nights. He praised Yamanaka Onsen as one of the “three best hot springs in Japan” along with Arima Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen,
He wrote a poem, “Yamanaka, chrysanthemums are not broken by hand, the smell of the hot spring
The poem “Yamanaka, chrysanthemums are not broken by hand, the smell of the hot spring” was written in the same style.

More than 300 years have passed since then, but Yamanaka Onsen still retains its hot springs, rich nature, and beautiful Japanese culture and spirit.

Hot Springs Surrounded by Mountains

Yamanaka Onsen is a town with wonderful nature, surrounded by mountains and flowing streams. Enjoying the beautiful scenery of the valley is one of the attractions of Yamanaka Onsen.

Along the Daishoji River that flows through Yamanaka, the Tsurusenkei Trail is well maintained, and visitors can stroll from Kurotani Bridge to Koorogi Bridge via Ayatori Hashi. You can enjoy the colorful nature of the four seasons.

Seafood available even in the mountains

Yamanaka Onsen is located in the mountains but close to the Sea of Japan, and fresh seafood arrives from the Kaga and Hashidate fishing ports.

In winter, you can enjoy delicious seafood from the Sea of Japan, such as snow crab, Kabako crab, yellowtail and sweet shrimp.

Hot water of Yamanaka Onsen

The hot spring water warms you to the core and heals your body and soul. Basho, the Japanese poet and poet laureate, praised Yamanaka Onsen as one of the three best hot springs in Japan. Even now, more than 1,300 years after the opening of the hot spring, the ancient hot spring place “Kikuno-yu” is still loved by many people.

The spring is a calcium-sodium monosulfate spring 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, and motor paralysis.

The spring can also be drunk, and is said to be good for gallstones, chronic constipation, obesity, diabetes, and gout.