Yamashiro Onsen Ko-soyu

Yamashiro Onsen is made up of two bathhouses: Soyu and Ko-soyu. The one called Soyu is a new, spacious public bath; the other is the one introduced on this page, called Ko-soyu.
Ko-soyu is a restoration of a bathhouse from the Meiji era. Not limited to the exterior and interior design, however, this bathhouse reproduces the bathing experience of the time it was first built, allowing visitors to enjoy soaking in an onsen called yu-ami. At the Taiken-gata Onsen Museum, visitors can enjoy onsen history and culture while bathing, making it a popular spot. The rest area on the second floor as well as the kutani-ware tiles of the walls and floor of the bath area have been restored to exactly how they once were.
Boasting a history of 1,300 years, Yamashiro Onsen is centered around the bathhouse Soyu, and shops and ryokan hotels are lined up in Yu no Gawa (hot-water district), preserving the look of the town even today. It is even said that many poets and artists have visited Yu no Gawa.
The unique culture and townscape found here has been cultivated throughout history, and vestiges of olden days are still present today. The original scenery of the onsen areas of Japan can be felt and experienced here, so onsen enthusiasts should make sure not to pass up a visit. 

Photograph provided by Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism League