Immerse yourself in Japanese unique craft culture and the ambience of hot springs
Kutani-yaki Kiln Museum can be accessed by public transportation from either JR Kanazawa or Kaga Onsen Station. A roughly 10-minute walk from the museum will lead you to Yamashiro Onsen, a hot spring town full of Japanese atmosphere. In the town center, you will find a communal bathhouse, ryokan (traditional Japanese inns), Kutani ware galleries and shops, cafés, and souvenir shops, so you can walk around the town and discover the charm of Kutani ware.
Nearby tourist spots
Kosoyu public bathhouse [Website]
Address: 18-128 Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Tel: 0761-76-0144
Rosanjin's Iroha Soan [Website]
The renowned artist KITAOJI Rosanjin (1835-1959) was a master calligrapher, woodcarver, and ceramicist. His works have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This cottage was his home during his stay in Ishikawa in 1915. Originally built as an annex of the Yoshinoya Ryokan (inn) in the early Meiji era (1868-1912), it was a place where the wealthy townsmen of the area would gather to enjoy art and culture. For Rosanjin, who continued to visit and cultivate close connections with these men following his stay, it was a place of learning and solace, and a second home. While staying at the cottage, Rosanjin also learned the art of pottery under the tutelage of SUDA Seika (1862-1927), a Kutani-yaki (Kutani porcelain) artist in Yamashiro Onsen. Today, visitors can see the rooms where he lived and worked preserved almost exactly as he left them.
Access: 12 minutes on foot from museum.
Address: 18-5 Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Tel: 0761-77-7111
Suda Seika [Website]
Suda Seika is a charming gallery and shop associated with a lineage of Kutani-yaki (Kutani porcelain) artists active in Yamashiro Onsen since the 19th century. The appeal of SUDA Seika’s Kutani ware are their rich colours and carefree brushwork, bringing to fruition the 'beauty of use'. At the entrance to this traditional building, which was originally a merchant house at the turn of the 19th century, one can admire the wood sign that was carved by KITAOJI Rosanjin (1883-1959), a well-known Japanese artist who learned the art of pottery under Suda Seika while staying at the Iroha Soan cottage in 1915.
Access: 8 minutes on foot from museum.
Address: 4 Higashiyamamachi, Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Tel: 0761-76-0008
Yakuoin Onsenji Temple [Website]
In Japan, there are several myths and legends linked to the onsen origins. According to one, the hot spring source in Yamashiro Onsen was discovered by the high priest Gyoki (668-749) on his pilgrimage to Mt. Hakusan. Gyoki also founded a Buddhist temple known today as the Yakuoin Onsenji Temple. The temple stands on the hill directly behind the soyu (public bathhouse) located in the centre of Yamashiro Onsen and features a beautiful, vermillion-lacquered main hall. A statue of the 11-faced kannon (goddess of mercy) which was carved during the Heian era (794-1185) is worth a look. In autumn, postcard views of vivid red and yellow maple leaves await.
Access: 10 minutes on foot from museum
Address: 4-18-40 Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Tel: 0761-76-1155
Kosoyu public bathhouse [Website]
Address: 18-128 Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Tel: 0761-76-0144
Rosanjin's Iroha Soan [Website]
The renowned artist KITAOJI Rosanjin (1835-1959) was a master calligrapher, woodcarver, and ceramicist. His works have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This cottage was his home during his stay in Ishikawa in 1915. Originally built as an annex of the Yoshinoya Ryokan (inn) in the early Meiji era (1868-1912), it was a place where the wealthy townsmen of the area would gather to enjoy art and culture. For Rosanjin, who continued to visit and cultivate close connections with these men following his stay, it was a place of learning and solace, and a second home. While staying at the cottage, Rosanjin also learned the art of pottery under the tutelage of SUDA Seika (1862-1927), a Kutani-yaki (Kutani porcelain) artist in Yamashiro Onsen. Today, visitors can see the rooms where he lived and worked preserved almost exactly as he left them.
Access: 12 minutes on foot from museum.
Address: 18-5 Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Tel: 0761-77-7111
Suda Seika [Website]
Suda Seika is a charming gallery and shop associated with a lineage of Kutani-yaki (Kutani porcelain) artists active in Yamashiro Onsen since the 19th century. The appeal of SUDA Seika’s Kutani ware are their rich colours and carefree brushwork, bringing to fruition the 'beauty of use'. At the entrance to this traditional building, which was originally a merchant house at the turn of the 19th century, one can admire the wood sign that was carved by KITAOJI Rosanjin (1883-1959), a well-known Japanese artist who learned the art of pottery under Suda Seika while staying at the Iroha Soan cottage in 1915.
Access: 8 minutes on foot from museum.
Address: 4 Higashiyamamachi, Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Tel: 0761-76-0008
Yakuoin Onsenji Temple [Website]
In Japan, there are several myths and legends linked to the onsen origins. According to one, the hot spring source in Yamashiro Onsen was discovered by the high priest Gyoki (668-749) on his pilgrimage to Mt. Hakusan. Gyoki also founded a Buddhist temple known today as the Yakuoin Onsenji Temple. The temple stands on the hill directly behind the soyu (public bathhouse) located in the centre of Yamashiro Onsen and features a beautiful, vermillion-lacquered main hall. A statue of the 11-faced kannon (goddess of mercy) which was carved during the Heian era (794-1185) is worth a look. In autumn, postcard views of vivid red and yellow maple leaves await.
Access: 10 minutes on foot from museum
Address: 4-18-40 Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Tel: 0761-76-1155
BY CAR
10 minutes from JR Kaga Onsen Station
30 minutes from Komatsu Airport
20 minutes from Hokuriku Expressway Kaga IC
20 minutes from Hokuriku Expressway Katayamazu IC
BY TAXI
10 minutes from JR Kaga Onsen Station
BY LOCAL BUS [TIME TABLE]
15 minutes by local bus from Kaga Onsen Station. Get off at “Yamashiro Onsen Higashi-guchi”, 4 minutes on foot.
BY CANBUS [WEB]
10 minutes from JR Kaga Onsen Station --- 2 minutes walk from CAMBUS stop 6a, “Ancient Kutani Kiln Exhibition Center”
PARKING (Free)
Passenger cars: 30
BY CAR
10 minutes from JR Kaga Onsen Station
30 minutes from Komatsu Airport
20 minutes from Hokuriku Expressway Kaga IC
20 minutes from Hokuriku Expressway Katayamazu IC
BY TAXI
10 minutes from JR Kaga Onsen Station
BY LOCAL BUS [TIME TABLE]
15 minutes by local bus from Kaga Onsen Station. Get off at “Yamashiro Onsen Higashi-guchi”, 4 minutes on foot.
BY CANBUS [WEB]
10 minutes from JR Kaga Onsen Station --- 2 minutes walk from CAMBUS stop 6a, “Ancient Kutani Kiln Exhibition Center”
PARKING (Free)
Passenger cars: 30