Kaga Onsen: Relaxation, Kaiseki, Sake, & Gold Leaf Workshop

Spend a night in luxury at this sprawling onsen resort in Kaga’s Yamashiro Onsen in Ishikawa. Yamashiro’s hot springs are famous for their restorative properties. And with good reason! The legendary founding of Yamashiro Onsen tells the story of a Buddhist monk coming across a mythical three-legged crow (the Yatagarasu) easing its pain with a soak in the mineral-rich waters over a thousand years ago. The town is also well known for its Kosoyu public bathhouse, a restored Meiji-period building that features stained glass windows and a second-floor tatami relaxation space.

To fully enjoy the luxury of Kaga Onsen and its proximity to the Sea of Japan and Kanazawa, your hosts have curated a top-to-bottom Ishikawa experience. Upon arriving at the resort, you’ll be free to explore the facilities–including an arcade with retro and modern games, four different onsen spaces, and an almost five-acre spanning traditional Japanese garden. Not to mention, your own private hot spring bath in your room!

The star treatment doesn’t stop at the private bath, though. A multi-course kaiseki dinner packed full of local delicacies will also be served in your room. Expect freshly caught succulent kano-gani snow crab in the wintertime, various grilled fish and sushi dishes throughout the year, and all the seasonal vegetables you could dream of. On top of an upscale dining experience, you’ll be privy to a sake tasting of 3 to 5 different types of sake from the region! And don’t forget breakfast, which features local fish, fruit, and rice.

If you look carefully at the plates used to serve your dinner, you might notice intricate designs in red, blue, green, or gold - the local pottery style of Yamashiro is Kutani Porcelain, which often features gold elements. To round off your mini tour of Ishikawa, learn how to work with Kanazawa’s claim to fame, kinpaku gold leaf, in an exclusive workshop. You’ll learn to apply gold leaf to a design, essentially painting with gold.