Yamanaka Onsen

This 1,300-year-old onsen village in the Kaga mountains is known for its lacquerware craft and a distinct performing arts culture shaped by the sailors who traded along the Sea of Japan in the 1800s. The public bathhouse Kiku no Yu anchors the main square, with a free footbath and drinking spring outside. Geisha perform a local song called Yamanaka-bushi at the Yamanaka-za theater on weekends, and weekday visitors can join intimate sessions with geisha. The town is renowned for its lathework lacquerware, and several shops along the historic Yuge-kaido street let visitors try turning wooden pieces on a lathe.