Kaga Hot Spring Village
Recommended activities and seasons
Relax in Onsens:Onsen
Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter
Hot springs towns beloved of writers and artists for more than 1,300 years.
Kaga Onsen is the collective term for four hot springs in the heart of the Hokuriku region. Katayamazu Onsen, Yamashiro Onsen, and Yamanaka Onsen in Kaga, along with Awazu Onsen in Komatsu, are located within a radius of eight kilometers in Ishikawa Prefecture. In the 1,300 years since the hot springs were opened, they have been visited by many writers and artists, including the poets Matsuo Basho and Akiko Yosano, all of whom numbered these springs among their personal favorites.
The story is told that Yamashiro Onsen was discovered about 1,300 years ago when the monk Gyoki observed crows basking in the waters of the spring and realized that it must be a hot spring. Ever since, it has been known and loved as the Hot Spring of the Crows. Among the pleasures of Yamashiro Onsen are the public bath houses. At the Ko-Soyu, restored in the style of a Meiji-period bath house, bathers can experience the atmosphere of those days surrounded by faithfully reproduced elements such as stained glass and Kutani-yaki ceramic tiles. The artist Kitaoji Rosanjin is said to have polished his skills during a sojourn at the hot spring. The area is also known as the home of Kutani-yaki ceramics, giving Yamashiro Onsen an abundance of charms in addition to its waters.
Soak in the waters as long as you like, then stroll through the atmospheric hot spring towns.
Yamanaka Onsen, surrounded by verdant mountains, was famously praised by Basho as having a heat that penetrates one’s body to the core, and the hot springs have been much loved by visitors from ancient times up to the present day. Visitors strolling the Kakusenkei Trail, which extends along the Daishoji River from the Kurotani Bridge to the Korogi Bridge, can enjoy the exquisite scenery of the Kakusenkei Gorge in all four seasons. Yamanaka is also the home of Kokutani ceramics, which are highly esteemed all over the world. The town is filled with ceramics galleries, as well as many cafes and restaurants.
Yet another hot spring in Kaga is Katayamazu Onsen. Located on the shores of Shibayamagata Lake, which is said to change color seven times a day, the spring has a feeling of openness. The waters have a moisturizing effect and keep the bather warm even after the bath is over. The spring is also effective in relieving sensitivity to the cold, so that it warms both the body and the mind. Visitors can also stroll along the lakeshore while feeling the pleasant breezes.
Bathe in these distinctive hot springs to your heart’s content, then enjoy the atmosphere and the natural surroundings of the towns.
A moment at Kaga Onsen.
Kaga Hot Spring Village
Address |
Awazu Onsen
Awazu Onsen, Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture
Katayamazu Onsen
Katayamazu Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture
Yamashiro Onsen
Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture
Yamanaka Onsen
Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture |
Hours |
Varies according to facility |
Closed |
Open daily |
Cost |
Varies according to facility |
Phone |
Awazu Onsen Tourism Association 0761-65-1834
Katayamazu Onsen Tourism Association 0761-74-1123
Yamashiro Onsen Tourism Association 0761-77-1144
Yamanaka Onsen Tourism Association 0761-78-0330 |
Access |
Awazu Onsen By Komatsu Bus from JR Komatsu Sta. to Awazu Onsen, about 30 min
Katayamazu Onsen By Kaga Onsen Bus from JR Kaga Onsen Sta. to Katayamazu Onsen, about 15 min
Yamashiro Onsen By Kaga Onsen Bus from JR Kaga Onsen Sta. to Yamashiro Onsen, about 10 min
Yamanaka Onsen By Kaga Onsen Bus from JR Kaga Onsen Sta. to Yamanaka Onsen Bus Terminal, about 30 min |
Web site |
http://www.kaga410.com/ |
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