Kanazawa Onsen | A Relaxing Journey Through Hot Springs and Traditional Culture

The Appeal of Kanazawa's Hot Springs

Kanazawa is famous for traditional attractions such as Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, and the Higashi Chaya District. In recent years, however, a growing number of international visitors have come in search of another Japanese cultural experience: the onsen. For travelers from Europe, the Americas, and elsewhere in Asia in particular, Japan's long-standing bathing culture and the healing effects of hot springs make for an appealing cultural experience.

What sets the hot springs around Kanazawa apart is their deep history and the variety of their waters. Kanazawa flourished as the castle town of the million-koku Kaga domain, and onsen where the lords of the Kaga domain once came to take the waters are still in use today. Many of these spots let you enjoy a soak in a quiet, nature-rich setting, which has made them popular as places to refresh body and mind between busy days of sightseeing.

Hot Springs in Central Kanazawa

You can enjoy a proper onsen experience right in the city of Kanazawa. The spots in the central area are especially popular with international visitors, since you can easily drop by between sightseeing stops.

Kinjo Onsen Motoyu

Located near the Kanazawa-Nishi IC, this facility offers an authentic onsen experience with 100% free-flowing source water. The mildly alkaline bicarbonate spring is said to brighten the skin, and the chloride content leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturized after your bath. It follows a typical public bathhouse (sento) format but also has an open-air bath, and it is well loved by locals.

• Closed: Every Tuesday (the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday) and New Year's Day
• Admission: Adults ¥500, children ¥150

Terume Kanazawa

Terume Kanazawa is a 24-hour onsen resort just one minute by car from the Kanazawa-Nishi IC. Centered on a large natural hot spring bath with abundant water, it also offers bedrock bathing, esthetic treatments, karaoke, restaurants, and hotel rooms. With 1,000 free parking spaces and a shuttle bus, it is easy to reach, and families and groups can relax here all day.

• Hours: Open 24 hours
• Closed: Irregular
• Admission: Weekdays — adults ¥1,100, children ¥400 / Weekends and holidays — adults ¥1,100, children ¥450 / Special days — adults ¥1,100, children ¥500

APA Spa Kanazawa-Ekimae

APA Spa Kanazawa-Ekimae is a large public bath inside the APA Hotel, a one-minute walk from the west exit of JR Kanazawa Station. It features a spacious indoor bath called "Gen'yo no Yu," an open-air tub bath with a view, and saunas for both men and women. Thanks to its convenient location in front of the station — a natural base for sightseeing — it draws many international visitors.

• Hours: 6:00 a.m. to midnight
• Admission: Adults ¥1,000 for 3 hours (tax included); free for hotel guests

The Charm of Yuwaku Onsen, Kanazawa's Hidden Retreat

Just about 30 minutes by car from central Kanazawa, Yuwaku Onsen is a quiet hot spring town that locals cherish as "Kanazawa's hidden retreat." Long prosperous as a place for therapeutic bathing, it is known as a renowned spring that successive lords of the Kaga domain visited frequently.

History and Features of Yuwaku Onsen

Yuwaku Onsen is said to date back to 718 (Yoro 2). According to legend, a farmer discovered the spring after seeing a white heron healing its body in the water; another account credits its discovery to Taicho Daishi, the monk who opened Mount Haku to pilgrimage. In the Edo period it was developed as the Kaga domain's official bath, and the second lord, Maeda Toshitsune, and the sixth lord, Maeda Yoshinori, are said to have particularly favored it for therapeutic stays.

The water is a sodium-calcium chloride spring, said to be effective for neuralgia, rheumatism, and skin conditions. About eight inns stand in this quiet mountain setting, where you can savor the time-honored atmosphere of a traditional hot spring town.

Recommended Places to Stay

Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Hyakurakuso

About 15 minutes by car from central Kanazawa, "Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Hyakurakuso" is an adults' hideaway inn with 24 rooms set in a quiet mountain valley. It comprises two buildings — the main "Saishin IROHA," themed on beauty, and the annex "Kagura KAGURA," the height of luxury — and more than half of the rooms come with an open-air bath. It offers indulgent experiences for all the senses, including four private open-air baths among the largest in the Hokuriku region, kaiseki cuisine made with local ingredients served in private rooms, and a Japanese-style afternoon tea. It also makes a convenient base for sightseeing in Kanazawa, with a free shuttle service available.

Atarashiya

"Atarashiya," a long-established inn founded 250 years ago in the hot spring town of Yuwaku, Kanazawa's hidden retreat, is a quiet ryokan that takes only eight groups of guests per day. In this purely Japanese-style single-story building, free-flowing source water with no added water wraps your skin in moisture. Dinner and breakfast are served in your room: handmade Kanazawa kaiseki using local seasonal ingredients. No frozen foods or farmed fish are used — only freshly prepared dishes. In 2024 the inn added the "Kuro Sauna," and you can relax in body and mind in a thoroughly Japanese setting. It is also conveniently located for sightseeing, about 20 minutes by car from the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, and Kenrokuen Garden.

Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Yunode

"Yunode" is a quiet inn in harmony with nature, located in Yuwaku Onsen about 20 minutes by car from central Kanazawa. It values unadorned beauty and lets you savor the romance of a hot spring stay to your heart's content alongside the scenery of each season. The interior has a calm, Japanese atmosphere that offers a respite from everyday life. It also works well as a base for sightseeing in Kanazawa, with easy access to Kenrokuen Garden and the Higashi Chaya District.

Oyado Yamashita

"Oyado Yamashita" is a quiet inn at the far end of Yuwaku Onsen, set in a historic hot spring area beloved by successive lords of the Kaga domain. All rooms are Japanese-style, with spacious interiors as a hallmark. Meals are served in your room: kaiseki cuisine using local seasonal ingredients such as nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), Noto beef, and wild abalone. With baths open 24 hours, you can heal both body and mind. It also has good access from central Kanazawa, making it an inn where you can enjoy both sightseeing and hot springs.

Yamane

"Yamane" is a small inn with just 10 rooms, tucked away in Yuwaku Onsen, Kanazawa's hidden retreat. In the irori (hearth) dining room, you can enjoy local mountain and sea delicacies grilled over charcoal. The private open-air bath is a special space carved from Tomuro stone, a famous Kanazawa stone, where you can fully enjoy natural hot spring water. About 30 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station and Kenrokuen Garden, it also makes a convenient base for sightseeing. In this quiet, nature-surrounded setting, you can spend a soothing, restful time.

Day-Use Bathing Spots

Yuwaku Onsen Soyu “Shirasagi no Yu”

"Shirasagi no Yu," in Yuwaku Onsen, Kanazawa's hidden retreat, is a communal bathhouse (soyu) with 1,300 years of history. According to legend, a farmer discovered the spring after watching a white heron (shirasagi) heal its wounds in the water. Beloved by successive lords of the Kaga domain, this renowned spring is a sodium chloride-sulfate spring said to be effective for muscle pain, sensitivity to cold, and fatigue recovery. The interior has a calm atmosphere with a Japanese aesthetic, where you can spend quiet time. It is also easy to reach: about 40 minutes by car from central Kanazawa, and about a 3-minute walk from the bus stop.

Kaga Onsen-go: A Journey Through Four Famous Springs

About an hour by car or train from Kanazawa lies a historic hot spring region known as "Kaga Onsen-go." Made up of four hot springs — Yamanaka, Yamashiro, Katayamazu, and Awazu — this area enchants many visitors, each spring with its own distinctive water and atmosphere.

Yamanaka Onsen

With 1,300 years of history, Yamanaka Onsen is a scenic hot spring town where purely Japanese-style ryokan and hotels line the beautiful gorge of the Daishoji River. It is known as a place visited by the poet Matsuo Basho, who left behind the famous haiku, "At Yamanaka — no need to pluck the chrysanthemums; the fragrance of the hot spring is enough."

Recommended spot: Kakusenkei Gorge

This is a walking path along the gorge of the Daishoji River, which flows through Yamanaka Onsen. It is known for the distinctive Ayatori Bridge and as a famous spot for autumn foliage. A stroll here is recommended after enjoying the onsen.

Recommended Places to Stay

Kagari Kisshotei

Set along the scenic Kakusenkei Gorge at Yamanaka Onsen, "Kagari Kisshotei" is a hot spring inn where every room has a river view. From the standing open-air bath and the private baths, you can enjoy the gorge's beauty in every season. Dinner features charcoal-grilled dishes and local kaiseki using fresh seafood and Kaga vegetables, letting you savor regional flavors. The inn also has "Koorogi Yokocho," an alley where you can try festival games and traditional crafts such as Yamanaka lacquerware, so you can experience Japanese culture during your stay. With good access from Kaga-Onsen Station, it makes an ideal base for sightseeing.

Kissho Yamanaka

"Kissho Yamanaka" is a Kaga-conscious hot spring inn located in Yamanaka Onsen within Kaga Onsen-go. Set along the scenic Kakusenkei Gorge, it lets you fully enjoy natural hot spring water in open-air baths soothed by the murmur of the stream, as well as private baths and a footbath. Meals — Kaga kaiseki, teppanyaki, and dishes served in a Kaga restaurant reserved for special suites — feature seafood such as sweet shrimp, yellowtail, and crab, letting you savor regional flavors. The "Kissho Spa," among the largest in the Hokuriku region, offers relaxation treatments including gold-leaf esthetics. With good access from Kaga-Onsen Station, it makes an ideal base for sightseeing.

Yamanaka Onsen Ohanami Kyubei

"Ohanami Kyubei" is a Ryokan Café-style inn set along the gorge at Yamanaka Onsen. From its three private open-air baths with stunning views, you can enjoy the natural beauty of each season. The inn offers plenty of free experiences — hand-grilling rice crackers, whisking your own matcha, and comparing local sake — so you can easily experience Japanese culture. Meals are creative kaiseki using Noto beef and nodoguro, letting you savor regional flavors. With good access from Kaga-Onsen Station, it makes an ideal base for sightseeing.

Yamashiro Onsen

Yamashiro Onsen, home to the largest concentration of ryokan in Kaga Onsen-go, has long prospered as a place for therapeutic bathing. In the Edo period, the lords of the Kaga domain came here to rest and recuperate. The water is a sodium chloride-bicarbonate spring, said to be highly effective for beautiful skin.

Day-Use Bathing Spots

Yamashiro Onsen Ko-Soyu

"Ko-Soyu," a restoration of the Meiji-era communal bathhouse, has a distinctive exterior with a shingled roof and stained glass, while inside, Kutani-ware tiles and wiped-lacquer walls recreate the atmosphere of the period. It follows the "yuami" style, with no faucets or showers, so you can experience a form of bathing that is simply about soaking in the spring. The second floor has a rest area where you can spend quiet time, taking in the history and culture of the onsen.

Yamashiro Onsen Soyu

"Soyu" is a communal bathhouse using 100% source water with no added water. With a spacious tub and a heat-exchange system, it offers a comfortable soak. Its red-tiled roof and board-clad exterior blend into the scenery of the historic hot spring town and make it a favorite of both locals and visitors. There is also a rest area where you can relax after your bath. With good access from Kaga-Onsen Station, it is convenient for a stop between sightseeing.

Recommended Places to Stay

Yoshidaya Sannokaku

"Yoshidaya Sannokaku," a long-established ryokan boasting the largest spring volume in Yamashiro Onsen, renovated its large public bath and open-air bath in 2022. With a sauna equipped with an iki stove and an auto-löyly function, it offers a pleasant soak. In 2021 and 2022 it added 13 guest rooms with open-air onsen baths, where you can relax in modern Japanese-Western rooms. With large rooms and special suites that can accommodate up to 10 guests, it is also ideal for family and group trips. It offers a full range of meal plans featuring seasonal Hokuriku produce, along with diverse hospitality such as in-room dining and esthetic treatments.

Yamashiro Onsen Rurikoh

"Rurikoh" is a refined onsen ryokan certified as a five-star inn and among the "100 Best Ryokan." In addition to open-air baths and a large public bath where you can enjoy the moods of each season, it offers a variety of bathing options, including five private open-air baths and a footbath. The cuisine makes the most of the bounty of Kaga's rich land and the Sea of Japan, letting you savor seasonal flavors and spend a soothing time for body and mind. With good access from Kaga-Onsen Station, it also makes an ideal base for sightseeing.

Yamashiro Onsen Yunokuni Tensho

"Yunokuni Tensho" is an onsen ryokan blessed with two abundant water sources: its own spring and a piped-in spring. Its appeal is the "one night, three baths, eighteen-bath tour," letting you enjoy 18 types of baths across three large public baths that alternate between men and women. With a variety of rooms — from those with open-air onsen baths to premium suites — it offers private, soothing time. Meals are Kaga kaiseki using nodoguro and Noto beef, letting you taste the season in Hokuriku. With good access from Kaga-Onsen Station, it makes an ideal base for sightseeing.

Katayamazu Onsen

Katayamazu Onsen is known for its scenic location overlooking Lake Shibayama. Many upscale ryokan and hotels line the lakeshore, and the beautiful views from the windows are a major draw. The water is a sodium chloride spring, said to be effective for neuralgia and muscle pain.

Day-Use Bathing Spots

Kaga Katayamazu Onsen Soyu

"Kaga Katayamazu Onsen Soyu" is a modern, fully glass-walled onsen facility on the shore of Lake Shibayama. It has two bathing areas — "Kata no Yu," with a view of the lake, and "Mori no Yu," surrounded by greenery — which alternate between men and women each day. The second floor has "Machi Café," with an open terrace, where you can enjoy a menu using local ingredients and homemade sweets. It is easy to reach, about 10 minutes by bus from Kaga-Onsen Station.

Photo: Courtesy of Yoshidaya Sannoukaku Official Website

Recommended Places to Stay

Katayamazu Onsen Kasuikyo

Set on the shore of Lake Shibayama, "Kasuikyo" is an onsen inn where every room has a lake view, with sweeping vistas of the Hakusan mountain range. In the large public bath "Tamayura no Yu," you can heal body and mind with a 15-meter panoramic bath and a newly added sauna. The cuisine is kaiseki featuring seasonal Hokuriku flavors such as snow crab and matsutake mushrooms. In 2023, the exterior was renovated in a bengara-red color, transforming it into a space that blends a Japanese atmosphere with modern design. With good access from Kaga-Onsen Station, it makes an ideal base for sightseeing.

Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Nagayama

"Nagayama" is an onsen inn on the shore of Lake Shibayama, with stunning views of the Hakusan mountain range. In its spacious large public bath and open-air bath, you can fully enjoy natural hot spring water. Meals are a creative buffet served from a live kitchen, with a wide variety of dishes using local seasonal ingredients. About 10 minutes by car from Kaga-Onsen Station, it is easy to reach and convenient as a base for sightseeing.

Wakura Onsen, the Jewel of the Noto Peninsula

About an hour and a half north of Kanazawa, Wakura Onsen is a hot spring area facing Nanao Bay on the eastern side of the Noto Peninsula. Upscale ryokan line the seafront, and it is known as a luxurious spot where you can enjoy "the sunset over the Sea of Japan and a hot spring" at the same time.

Features of Wakura Onsen

The water at Wakura Onsen is a sodium chloride spring, said to be effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, and joint pain. There are many open-air baths overlooking the sea, and bathing while watching the sun set into the Sea of Japan is sure to be an unforgettable experience for international visitors.

Day-Use Bathing Spots

Wakura Onsen Soyu

"Wakura Onsen Soyu" is the communal bathhouse of Wakura Onsen, which has 1,200 years of history. Welling up through the granite underground, the water is colorless, clear, and salty, with a gentle quality that is kind to the skin. Inside is a bright, clean bathing area beloved by locals and visitors alike. The second floor has a rest space where you can relax after your bath. About 5 minutes by bus from JR Wakura-Onsen Station, it is easy to reach and ideal for a day-use soak.

Recommended Places to Stay

Kagaya

"Kagaya," a long-established ryokan in Wakura Onsen, continues to captivate guests with a spirit of hospitality handed down since its founding. Every room overlooks Nanao Bay, and traditional crafts are placed throughout the building, letting you feel the essence of Kaga culture. In the seaside open-air bath and large public bath, you can heal body and mind while feeling the sea breeze. Meals are kaiseki cuisine using fresh local seafood and Kaga vegetables, letting you savor the flavors of each season. Kagaya offers a special stay where Japanese tradition meets modern comfort.

Hotel Kaibo

"Hotel Kaibo" is an onsen inn with a stunning location facing Nanao Bay. Every room is ocean-view, with sweeping vistas of the calm sea from your window. In the large public bath and open-air bath, you can spend relaxing time with the sound of the waves as your background music. Meals feature fresh local seafood and seasonal ingredients, letting you savor the flavors of Noto. With good access from Wakura-Onsen Station, it also makes an ideal base for sightseeing.

TAOYA Wakura

"TAOYA Wakura" is an onsen resort hotel that rebranded and reopened in April 2025. From its all ocean-view rooms, you can enjoy stunning views of Nanao Bay. In the infinity onsen, you can experience an openness that feels as if you are one with the sea. Meals are buffet-style, making the most of Noto's ingredients, with the appeal of dishes cooked at a live kitchen. With all-inclusive service, drinks and facility use during your stay are included, offering a comfortable visit.

How to Get There

There are several ways to get from Kanazawa Station to Wakura Onsen.

By train

1. From Kanazawa Station, take the Nanao Line limited express "Noto Kagaribi" or a local train
2. Get off at Wakura-Onsen Station (about 40 minutes by limited express, about 1 hour 30 minutes by local train)
3. From the station, walk or use a shuttle bus to your inn

By bus

• A limited express bus runs from Kanazawa Station to Wakura Onsen (about 1 hour 20 minutes)

By rental car

• About 1 hour from Kanazawa Station via the Noetsu Expressway

Onsen Etiquette Every International Visitor Should Know

To get the most out of Japan's onsen culture, it helps to know the basic etiquette. Here we introduce the onsen bathing manners that international visitors in particular should know.

Basic Etiquette Before Bathing

1.Getting ready in the changing room

• In the changing room, remove all of your clothing and bathe naked
• Put valuables in a locker or have them held at the front desk
• Do not bring a bath towel into the bathing area; take only a small towel with you

2.Using the washing area before bathing

• Always wash your body before entering the bath
• The washing area has stools and a shower or a basin
• Wash your whole body with soap and shampoo, then rinse off thoroughly

How to Behave in the Bath

1.Bringing a towel into the bath

• You may bring in a small towel about the size of a tenugui (hand towel), but putting it into the bathwater is not allowed
• Place it on top of your head or on the rim of the bath

2.Manners while in the bath

• Do not swim or talk loudly in the bath
• Stay quiet so as not to disturb other bathers
• Try not to occupy the same spot for a long time

Other Points to Note

About tattoos

• In Japan, there is a traditional cultural association between tattoos and organized crime, and many onsen facilities prohibit bathing for people with tattoos
• More facilities have recently relaxed their rules for international visitors, but we recommend checking in advance

Advice for people with long hair

• Tie up long hair before entering the bath
• It is good manners to keep your hair from touching the bathwater

How to Choose Foreigner-Friendly Facilities

When enjoying an onsen, international visitors may want to choose a facility with the following points in mind.

1. Language support: Choose a facility with staff who can handle English or multiple languages
2. Tattoo policy: Check the facility's tattoo policy in advance
3. Access: Choose a facility with good access from major stations
4. Pricing: Choose a facility that fits your budget (as a guide, about ¥1,000 for a public bathhouse and about ¥2,000 to ¥3,000 for a day-use onsen. Prices vary by facility and area.)
5. Privacy: A facility with a family bath or private bath lets you enjoy the onsen in a more private space

If this is your first time experiencing a Japanese onsen, it's a good idea to stay at a ryokan or hotel accustomed to welcoming international visitors, or to start with a large onsen facility. With staff guidance and multilingual signage, you can use the facility with peace of mind and without worrying about bathing etiquette.

Tips for Enjoying Day-Trip Onsen

Many international visitors to Kanazawa want to enjoy an onsen on a day trip without staying overnight. Here are some tips for making the most of a day-trip onsen.

Recommended Facilities by Purpose

• Easy to drop by between sightseeing: facilities in central Kanazawa (Terume Kanazawa, APA Spa Kanazawa-Ekimae)
• For an authentic onsen experience: Yuwaku Onsen or day-use facilities in the suburbs
• For bathing while enjoying the scenery: facilities with view open-air baths at Wakura Onsen
• For people with tattoos: choose a facility with a family bath or private bath

What to Bring: A Checklist

A handy list of items to bring when visiting a day-use onsen facility.

• Towels (a face towel and a bath towel) *some facilities offer rentals
• A change of clothes
• Skincare items such as facial cleanser and toner
• A hair tie (for those with long hair)
• A waterproof case (for storing your smartphone, etc.)
• Small change (for lockers, etc.)
• A drink to rehydrate (for after your bath)

Enjoying the Onsen Through the Four Seasons

The hot springs around Kanazawa each have a different appeal in every season. Here we introduce ways to make your onsen experience even richer depending on when you visit.

Spring (March–May)

In cherry blossom season, you can enjoy beautiful scenery in the hot spring areas, too. At Yuwaku Onsen in particular, a row of cherry trees lines the hot spring town, so you can feel the arrival of spring as you stroll. The temperatures are also mild at this time of year, perfect for a pleasant walk after your bath.

Recommended spots: the cherry blossom row at Yuwaku Onsen, and the fresh greenery of Kakusenkei Gorge at Yamanaka Onsen

Summer (June–August)

The season is hot, but the mountain hot spring areas stay cool and are popular as summer retreats. The mountain springs of Yuwaku Onsen and Yamanaka Onsen are especially exquisite for bathing while feeling a cool breeze. Bathing in the relatively cool morning or evening hours is recommended.

Recommended spots: the streamside near Yuwaku Onsen, and water activities on Lake Shibayama at Katayamazu Onsen

Autumn (September–November)

The autumn foliage season is when the hot spring areas are at their most beautifully colorful. Kakusenkei Gorge at Yamanaka Onsen is especially known as a famous foliage spot, and soaking in an open-air bath while gazing at trees turning red and yellow is an exquisite experience. At this time of year, you can also enjoy autumn flavors such as fresh matsutake mushrooms and chestnuts together with the onsen.

Recommended spots: Kakusenkei Gorge at Yamanaka Onsen, the autumn foliage of the mountains around Yuwaku Onsen, and the foliage light-ups at Kaga Onsen-go

Winter (December–February)

The area around Kanazawa gets heavy snow, and winter is the best season to enjoy a snow-viewing onsen. Bathing while gazing at a pure-white snowscape gives you a sense of atmosphere unique to Japan. And because it is the cold season, the warmth of the onsen feels all the more soothing.

Recommended spots: the snowscape of Yuwaku Onsen, the Soyu at Yamashiro Onsen, and the snow-viewing open-air bath at Yamanaka Onsen

Making the Most of Your Kanazawa Onsen Experience

Tips for Choosing a Place to Stay

Consider the location

• If you want to enjoy both sightseeing and onsen, an onsen hotel in central Kanazawa or the easily accessible Yuwaku Onsen is recommended
• If you want to focus mainly on onsen, accommodations in Kaga Onsen-go or Wakura Onsen are a good fit

Be particular about meals

• Kanazawa is a treasure trove of food, blessed with bounty from both the sea and the mountains
• Choosing an inn that serves Kaga cuisine or Noto seafood lets you enjoy not just the onsen but the meals as well

Consider the room type

• If it's your first stay at a Japanese ryokan, a Japanese-Western room or a modern Japanese room offers peace of mind
• For those seeking a special experience, a room with an open-air bath is recommended

How to Enjoy the Onsen to the Fullest

Timing your bath

• Bathing in the early morning or at dusk is recommended. There are fewer visitors, so you can enjoy the onsen in a quieter setting
• At Wakura Onsen, bathing at dusk while watching the sun set into the Sea of Japan is exquisite

How to bathe

• Rather than soaking for a long time all at once, bathing in several shorter sessions is the Japanese way to enjoy it
• To avoid overheating, start with short sessions (about 5 to 10 minutes) at first

Aftercare

• Be sure to rehydrate after your bath
• Enjoying a local onsen manju (steamed bun) or some milk after your bath is also part of onsen culture

Conclusion

Kanazawa and its surroundings are dotted with hot spring areas of all kinds. By combining sightseeing in a historic castle town with Japan's age-old bathing culture, you can have an even deeper experience of Japan. From convenient facilities in the city to renowned springs a little farther afield, choose the onsen spots that best suit your travel style.

Kanazawa's onsen are not merely bathing facilities but special places where you can experience Japanese tradition, culture, and the spirit of hospitality. Follow onsen etiquette and interact with the locals as you enjoy a Kanazawa onsen journey that warms both body and mind. The depth of Japan's bathing culture and the refined onsen experience unique to Kanazawa are sure to become an unforgettable memory.

About the Information in This Article (Please Note)

*Prices generally vary by season and plan.

In particular, with recent changes in the economic climate and the recovery of inbound demand, pricing may have been revised in line with the changing environment surrounding tourism.

Please treat the prices in this article as a rough guide only, and be sure to check the latest information on each facility's official website when making a reservation.

*While it is generally known that people with tattoos can use private onsen, not every private onsen facility permits tattoos. Some facilities have their own rules, so for your peace of mind we recommend checking with each facility in advance.

*Not all hotel reservation sites are partnered with the facilities.

In particular, at small, traditional facilities, direct booking by phone may still be the main option, so please keep this in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: It's my first time at a Japanese onsen and I'm worried about the language barrier. Are there facilities that offer English support?

A: With the growing number of visitors, English support is becoming more common at many onsen facilities around Kanazawa. English support is especially well developed at onsen inside large hotels such as the "ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa," "Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel," and "Hotel Nikko Kanazawa." "Hyakurakuso" at Yuwaku Onsen, the main ryokan of Kaga Onsen-go, and "Kagaya" at Wakura Onsen are also advancing their multilingual support.

A growing number of facilities provide English pamphlets explaining basic bathing etiquette, and the City of Kanazawa even distributes an English-language public bathhouse map for international travelers. If you have any concerns, it's reassuring to confirm whether English support is available when you make your booking.

Q2: I have a tattoo. Are there any onsen where I can still bathe?

A: In Japan, there is a traditional cultural association between tattoos and organized crime, so many public baths and large hotel baths decline entry to people with tattoos. However, as the number of inbound visitors grows, more facilities are taking steps such as the following.

1. Facilities with private baths or family baths: such as "Hyakurakuso" at Yuwaku Onsen and the family bath at "Kinjo Onsen Motoyu"
2. Rooms with a private onsen: upscale ryokan at Wakura Onsen and some ryokan at Yamashiro Onsen
3. Facilities that have relaxed their rules for international visitors: some facilities at Yamanaka Onsen

We recommend checking the facility's official website before your visit or contacting them by phone. In some cases, you can bathe by covering a small tattoo with a waterproof bandage.

Q3: Are there onsen within day-trip range of Kanazawa where I can also enjoy some sightseeing?

A: There are several recommended combinations.

1. Central Kanazawa sightseeing and Yuwaku Onsen

• Morning: Sightseeing at Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, and the Higashi Chaya District
• Afternoon: Head to Yuwaku Onsen for a bath (about 30 minutes by bus from Kanazawa Station)
• Recommended facilities: Yuwaku Onsen Soyu "Shirasagi no Yu" or Motoyu Ishiya

1. Kanazawa and Yamanaka Onsen

• Morning: Sightseeing in central Kanazawa
• Afternoon: Take the train to JR Kaga-Onsen Station, then a bus to Yamanaka Onsen
• A stroll through Kakusenkei Gorge at Yamanaka Onsen and a bath
• Recommended facilities: the Soyu "Kiku no Yu" or a day-use bath at "Yunokuni Tensho"

1. Kanazawa and Wakura Onsen

• Morning: Sightseeing in central Kanazawa
• Afternoon: Travel to Wakura Onsen on the Nanao Line (about 40 minutes by limited express)
• Bathing while enjoying the scenery of Nanao Bay and watching the sunset
• Recommended facilities: "Wakura Onsen Soyu" or a day-use onsen plan at "Tadaya"

Q4: Can you explain the differences in benefits depending on the spring's water quality?

A: The onsen around Kanazawa have a variety of water qualities, each with different benefits.

Water quality and benefits of the hot springs around Kanazawa

Q5: Can I enjoy an onsen with children?

A: Of course, you can enjoy an onsen with children. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• In Japan, children aged 7 and older generally cannot enter the bath of the opposite sex.
• If you have small children, a facility with a family bath is recommended.
• Some onsen facilities have features for children, such as shallow tubs and water-play areas.

Recommended facilities for families with children:

• Terume Kanazawa (central Kanazawa): a variety of baths the whole family can enjoy.
• Yamashiro Onsen "Rurikoh": has a shallow tub for children, and a family bath is also available.
• Katayamazu Onsen "Yunokuni no Mori": in addition to the onsen, you can try craft experiences, so children won't get bored.