On my last full day before going to stay in the temple, I went to a small hotspring town called Yamanaka Onsen. Its about a half hour train ride and then a half hour bus ride from Kanazawa. Thus bus driver was nice enough to let me out at the location of the public bath house, which actually two stops past the main Yamanaka Onsen stop. Nearby is a lovely walking trail along a river gorge. At one place there are little platforms set up with someone selling a sweet bean paste soup and tea.
I followed the trail upstream as far as it went, and then downstream. At the end is a hut where apparently Basho stayed while travelling here. Basho is a famous haiku poet from the 17th century.
After walking I went into the public bath.
I bought ticket for entry and a towel from a machine and presented them to the person a the entry booth. Inside the bath itself is quite spacious. It smelled of minerals. Since it is during a work day, there are only a few older men inside. I was surprised how long they stayed in the scalding hot water. I went in and sat with the water up to my neck for a few minutes, but it was so hot I had to get out and rinse with cool water. I repeated this about 3 or 4 times and I was done. Afterwards I sat outside in a shady spot for a while to cool off.
Yamanaka is a very quiet resort town. I walked up the main street of shops and found a little restaurant. There was a young guy working there - his parents owned the restaurant - and we talked for a while in Japanese. He was really into food. He talked about things like the difference between eating steamed rice and fried rice. I told him about my travels. He said while Kyoto is the place to go for temples and sight-seeing, Osaka is the place to go for food. Something for future reference.
Afterward I took the bus and train back to Kanazawa, and packed and got ready for my week stay at Daijoji temple.
I followed the trail upstream as far as it went, and then downstream. At the end is a hut where apparently Basho stayed while travelling here. Basho is a famous haiku poet from the 17th century.
After walking I went into the public bath.
I bought ticket for entry and a towel from a machine and presented them to the person a the entry booth. Inside the bath itself is quite spacious. It smelled of minerals. Since it is during a work day, there are only a few older men inside. I was surprised how long they stayed in the scalding hot water. I went in and sat with the water up to my neck for a few minutes, but it was so hot I had to get out and rinse with cool water. I repeated this about 3 or 4 times and I was done. Afterwards I sat outside in a shady spot for a while to cool off.
Yamanaka is a very quiet resort town. I walked up the main street of shops and found a little restaurant. There was a young guy working there - his parents owned the restaurant - and we talked for a while in Japanese. He was really into food. He talked about things like the difference between eating steamed rice and fried rice. I told him about my travels. He said while Kyoto is the place to go for temples and sight-seeing, Osaka is the place to go for food. Something for future reference.
Afterward I took the bus and train back to Kanazawa, and packed and got ready for my week stay at Daijoji temple.
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