Welcome back to the second part of my 2D1N Kaga Onsen itinerary. If you’re new here, be sure to catch up on Part 1 before proceeding any further. And now, let’s get started with Day 2!
Fruit-picking at Kaga Fruit Land
Start the day in a fruit paradise at Kaga Fruit Land (加賀フルーツランド) where you can pick and eat all the fruits you want at a fixed price. While fruits differ by season, Kaga Fruit Land offers strawberries, cherries, blueberries, grapes, and apples depending on the time of year. Be sure to make an appointment in advance before you head down, or you may be rejected.
Unlike the previous day, be sure to hop onto the Sea Route CANBUS instead of the Mountain Route from the station.
Kaga Fruit Land (加賀フルーツランド)
Address: I-59-1 Yutakamachi, Kaga-shi, Ishikawa 922-0563
Nearest station: Kaga Onsen Station (加賀温泉駅)
Nearest bus stop: Kaga Fruit Land (Bus Stop No. 18)
Wander around the Hashitate Fishing Port
How can you travel this close to the coast without indulging in some seafood? Head over to Hashitate Fishing Port (橋立港 Hashitate Minato) to explore and soak in the atmosphere of this rustic fishing port.
Once Japan’s wealthiest village, Hashitate Fishing Port was the midpoint for trips by the Kitamaebune (北前船 northern-bound ships) from Osaka (大阪府) to Hakodate (函館市) in Hokkaido. Due to that, many rich sailors and businessmen chose to set their roots down in this port.
Embracing its heritage, you can find the Kitamaebune Ship Museum (北前船の里資料館 Kitamaebune no Sato Shiryōkan) that showcases a range of artefacts related to the Kitamaebune.
If you’re interested to learn more about the lavish lifestyle of Hashitate’s former residents, then you can also check out the nearby Zorokuen (蔵六園), a preserved house of one of those former ship owners.
Kitamaebune Ship Museum (北前船の里資料館)
Address: I-Otsu 1-1, Hashitate-machi, Kaga-shi, Ishikawa 922-0554
Nearest station: Kaga Onsen Station (加賀温泉駅)
Nearest bus stop: Kitamaebune Ship Museum (Bus Stop No. 21)
Zorokuen (蔵六園)
Address: Ra-47 Hashitatemachi, Kaga-shi, Ishikawa 922-0554
Nearest station: Kaga Onsen Station (加賀温泉駅)
Nearest bus stop: Kitamaebune Ship Owner Residence-Zorokuen (Bus Stop No. 20)
Walking alongside the coast, you can gaze out into the Sea of Japan on one side and see fishing boats pulling into the dock on the other. While the Kitamaebune are no more, Hashitate is still famous for being a seafood paradise.
In the right season, you can find plenty of zuwaigani (ずわい蟹 male snow crab), amaebi (甘エビ sweet shrimp), and buri (ぶり amberjack) in the port. One of the most popular shops in the area is Maruya Suisan (マルヤ水産) located right in the harbour selling seafood at a wholesale price.
Maruya Suisan (マルヤ水産)
Address: Hamayama-2-11 Tajirimachi, Kaga, Ishikawa 922-0552
Nearest station: Kaga Onsen Station (加賀温泉駅)
Nearest bus stop: Hashitate Fishing Port (Bus Stop No. 22)
If you’re looking to try some of these delicacies, then just check out Kassen Shintoku (割鮮しんとく), operated by the aforementioned Maruya Suisan, and located just above it. Go for the “Meal of the Day” (今日の飯 kyō-no-meshi), which comes with a kaisendon (海鮮丼 seafood bowl), three small side dishes, miso soup, and pickles for ¥1,800.
If you’ve been tempted by the crabs you’ve seen around the port then try the kōbako kani ni kamameshi (香箱カニに釜飯), a dish served in an iron pot with rice simmered with crab meat and broth, for ¥3,200.
Kassen Shintoku (割鮮しんとく)
Address: Hamayama-2-11 Tajirimachi, Kaga-shi, Ishikawa 922-0552
Nearest station: Kaga Onsen Station (加賀温泉駅)
Nearest bus stop: Hashitate Fishing Port (Bus Stop No. 22)
Soak away in an onsen overlooking a lake at Katayamazu Onsen
After a morning of feasting, it’s time to burn away some of what you ate in an onsen. At Katayamazu Onsen (片山津温泉) sits a strikingly modern and beautiful glass building upon the Lake Shibayama (柴山潟). The Katayamazu Onsen Soyu (片山津温泉総湯) was designed by Yoshio Taniguchi (谷口 吉生), who redesigned the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It features two baths, one facing the lake and the other facing the forest, that are swapped between genders each day.
Katayamazu Onsen Soyu (片山津温泉総湯)
Address: Otsu-65-2 Katayamazu Onsen, Kaga-shi, Ishikawa 922-0412
Nearest station: Kaga Onsen Station (加賀温泉駅)
Nearest bus stop: Katayamazu Onsen : Soyu (Bus Stop No. 26a)
Spend the afternoon relaxing at cafes
Indulge in some desserts and sandwiches made from locally farmed fruits and vegetables at Machi Cafe (まちカフェ). Located on the second floor of the Soyu, it’s popular for its panoramic views of the lake. It makes for a great place to rest and recharge after soaking in the bath.
Machi Cafe (まちカフェ)
Address: 65-2 Katayamazu Onsen, Kaga-shi, Ishikawa 922-0412
Nearest station: Kaga Onsen Station (加賀温泉駅)
Nearest bus stop: Katayamazu Onsen: Soyu (Bus Stop No. 26a)
Right across the street from Machi Cafe is Hiraku Bakery (ヒラクベーカリー) and Mie Coffee (ミーコーヒー)—two shops that are especially popular amongst locals. Hiraku Bakery is popular for its wide range of sourdough breads, while Mie Coffee’s specialty is its cold brew. Additionally, you can get a discount when you buy products from both shops. So get some freshly-baked bread, and grab a seat at Mie Coffee to take in the atmosphere in this contemporary cafe.
Hiraku Bakery (ヒラクベーカリー)
Address: Otsu 69-39, Katayamazu Onsen, Kaga-shi, Ishikawa 922-0412
Nearest station: Kaga Onsen Station (加賀温泉駅)
Nearest bus stop: Katayamazu Onsen: Soyu (Bus Stop No. 26a)
Mie Coffee (ミーコーヒー)
Address: 69-39 Katayamazuonsen, Kaga-shi, Ishikawa 922-0412
Nearest station: Kaga Onsen Station (加賀温泉駅)
Nearest bus stop: Katayamazu Onsen: Soyu (Bus Stop No. 26a)
Head back to Kaga Onsen Station
After a relaxing day of coffee and sightseeing, be sure to catch the last CANBUS back to Kaga Onsen Station around 4:30pm.
Closing
That wraps up a relaxing 2-day tour of hot springs, temple, handicraft, hedgehog, fruits, seafood, and of course, more hot springs. If you have time, be sure to take the trek up Mount Hakusan, where a round-trip hike would take around 8–10 hours to complete. All in all, Kaga Onsen is one of those off-the-beaten-track destinations, with plenty of hidden sights that you can discover around every corner.
All information presented here is based on the writer’s last visit on January 2020.
Header image credit: Visit Kaga
