Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen Zenigame

Zenigame is a single remote inn tucked into the foothills of Mount Iozen (939 m), surrounded by the fast-flowing Itagaya River, about 30 minutes by car from central Kanazawa. It sits further upstream than Yuwaku Onsen, Kanazawa's traditional back-parlour hot spring district, and draws on its own private source drilled in 1996. The building is a relocated 300-year-old village headman's residence, said to have served the Maeda lords of the Kaga domain as a resting place during falconry outings. The inn barely advertises itself, so it remains little known outside circles of dedicated hot spring enthusiasts.

The water is a calcium-sodium sulfate and chloride spring, classified as hypotonic, alkaline and hot. The source emerges at 44.2C with a pH of 8.8 and a flow of 107 litres per minute via pumping. Nothing is added or removed: no dilution, no reheating, no recirculation and no chlorination. The bath water is almost colourless, carries a faint saltiness and a boiled-egg aroma, and feels silky and soft on the skin. The inlet is switched between the men's and women's baths so that fresh water is always pouring in.

There is one indoor bath each for men and women, and no open-air bath. The bathrooms are simple and fragrant with wood, and large windows frame the surrounding forest. Day-trip bathing costs 700 yen for adults, available 11:00 to 20:00 with last admission at 19:00, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Parking for 15 cars is free. Overnight stays are limited to three parties per day from 12,500 yen per person with two meals, featuring char and mountain vegetables grilled over charcoal.