30 minutes from Kanazawa on the express train, KAI Kaga has brought a fresh atmosphere to a traditional hot spring ryokan, inheriting the history of the long-established Japanese inn "Shiroganeya", visited by intellectuals since its establishment in 1624. Immerse yourself in Kaga culture with rooms furnished with traditional crafts such as Kaga yuzen and mizuhiki, cuisine expressing the philosophy of epicure Rosanjin Kitaoji, and the noble Kaga lion dance.
Traditional Architecture
This hot spring ryokan was resorted by Nobuyuki Yamamoto, who is a specialist in restoring traditional buildings registered as tangible cultural properties of Japan. He has worked on various important cultural properties such as the Kabukiza theater and Suitengu shrine in Tokyo. To restore stability to the slightly tilted structure, he removed pillars and beams one by one, reattached them, and carefully repainted them. The style and historic charm of the building were revived through this master craftsman's technique passed down to him by shrine carpenters.
Traditional architecture adorned with a tasteful "Bengara-goshi"
KAI Kaga’s architecture features "Bengara-goshi", or rouge latticing, an important component of the exterior of townhouses in Kyoto and Kanazawa. It combines thin wood both vertically and horizontally in a technique that makes it easy to see from the inside, but difficult from the outside, furthering its use as a security precaution. It is called "bengara-goshi" for its use of "bengara" (a red pigment mainly containing iron oxide), a rouge dye that also works as a preservative.
A tangible cultural property with a beautiful inner framework, the "waku-no-uchi"
This building has preserved the long-standing traditional architecture of its predecessor, the "Shiroganeya", and restored its beautiful design. The inner “waku-no-uchi” framework is a traditional building technique that does not use any nails, built only by joining a thick main pillar with support log girders. This technique is considered extremely rare as it is very difficult to reproduce the original materials on top of being both expensive and time-consuming. As a result, this traditional building and tea room were registered as a national tangible cultural property in 2016.
Three gardens linking tradition with modernity
Three gardens - the front garden, middle garden, and tea room garden - all represent KAI Kaga’s outlook on the world of linking tradition and modernity. The front garden has an eye-catching stone lantern which heightens the elegant, sophisticated atmosphere and harmonizes well with the traditional architecture. The middle garden is based on the “Yuzen-nagashi” (washing kimono in a river) motif and features tiles made out of Kutani porcelain, resulting in a colorful atmosphere. The tea room garden emits a deeply historical atmosphere. These three gardens run through each other like an ever-flowing river.
KAI Signature Rooms
At KAI, we offer KAI Signature Rooms created in collaboration with traditional craftspeople from the region that allow you to experience local wonders throughout your stay. Immerse in the local culture from your guest room adorned with motifs depicting the characteristics of the land, whether in its history, local produce, or traditional crafts.
The guest rooms at KAI Kaga integrate tradition and modernity with traditional crafts including "Kaga-Mizuhiki" cords and "Kaga-Yuzen" dyes that adorn the room, made supremely comfortable with low beds and sofas. Enjoy tea time with Kutani porcelain, characterized by its use of five bold colors - red, yellow, green, purple, and navy blue, utensils and feel the essence of Kaga culture, whether through the art displayed in the Tokonoma alcove or the elegant glow of the shoji paper screens decorated with Kaga mizuhiki. The Kaga mizuhiki flower prints and Kaga yuzen panels exquisitely embellish the bedroom at night.
KAI Local flavors
The dinner offered at KAI is a multi-course kaiseki meal, where the essence of the local area and season is reflected in each dish. At KAI Kaga, please enjoy the "marriage of plate and dish" based on the philosophy of the gourmet Kitaooji Rosanjin, who remarked that "the plate is the kimono of a dish". Enjoy a meal where ingredients and plateware combine to create a seamless dining experience. Young Kutani ware artists are commissioned by the head chef to create plate ware that best enhances the food, which includes seasonal ingredients like blackthroat seaperch, abalone, and snow crabs.
Special kaiseki meal
KAI provides special kaiseki meal using the finest produce, such as our most luxurious “Kiwami” Premium Kaiseki course that uses only fresh, live-purchased crabs for every dish. The Hokuriku region where KAI Kaga is located is one of the few places in Japan where you can enjoy the finest crabs, and was dubbed the "home of the crabs". The local snow crab is further distinguished as "the king of the Hokuriku winter". This snow crab has a uniquely refined sweetness, with condensed umami and rich inner flavor. The fishing season for snow crab, found only in the deepest and coldest sea waters, is but a short period of 4 months starting from November. One of the feature dishes at KAI Kaga, "Shimenawa-Mushi", is an unforgettable, dynamic cuisine prepared by steaming crab wrapped in a saltwater-soaked rope. This ensures that the crab meat is plump, soft, and filled with juicy umami after steaming, making for a dish of impeccable quality. This special cuisine was featured in Nihon MICHELIN Tire Co., Ltd’s "MICHELIN GUIDE Toyama-Kanazawa 2016".* In addition to the Shimenawa-Mushi steamed, charcoal-grilled, fried and sashimi crab dishes, you can also enjoy a unique snow crab hot pot and rice porridge.
KAI Cultural Discovery
One way of hospitality by the KAI properties is through KAI Cultural Discovery. The Shishimai (lion dance) held across Ishikawa Prefecture is named after the characteristic Happonirami lion mask based on the Kaga lion’s unique features. The dance has a lasting impact on whoever sees it and is said to have been originally performed as a celebration for Maeda Toshiie, the first Kaga feudal lord, as he entered Kanazawa Castle. Since then, the Shishimai has developed as a local folk performance and is performed at every festival and event. KAI Kaga performs a version of the traditional Kaga Shishimai, designated as one of Kanazawa’s intangible folk cultural properties, as a collaboration between local craft artists and folk performing arts groups. Each night, the staff presents a new and creative Kaga Shishimai with original choreography, costumes, and music while maintaining the cultural tradition of the noble samurai.
Public bath immersed in Kaga culture
Yamashiro Onsen is said to have been discovered about 1300 years ago by a high priest named Gyoki on his way to train at sacred Mt. Haku. Experience the comfort of soft and silky hot spring water known as the "hot spring of beauty" gliding along your skin. This Kaga bathing atmosphere is further enhanced with Kutani ware art panels created by young artists that decorate the indoor bath as well as the pine garden visible from the open-air bath. After soaking in the hot spring, guests are invited to enjoy complimentary beverages, such as the aromatic twig tea which is inspired by the Kaga area, at the tea lounge.
The retro public bathhouse "Ko-souyu"
A "souyu" is a public bathhouse, and the "Ko-souyu" is a recreation of a public bathhouse from the Meiji period. It not only incorporates a retro-style exterior and interior, but also features the traditional way of simply enjoying a bath called "Yu-ami". The public bathhouse is surrounded by inns and shops, maintaining the traditional Japanese scenery, and you can drop in for a soak as it is only about a one-minute walk from KAI Kaga.
Overview of KAI Kaga
Address: 18-47 Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa
Number of Rooms: 48
Facilities: Lobby, Dining area, Travel Library, Shop, Public hot springs, Yuagari Lounge
Check-in: 3:00 pm / Check-out: 12:00 pm
Starting Room Rate: Starts from 31,000 JPY per night (per person in a 2-person room, includes tax and service charge, breakfast and dinner)
Directions: Approximately 10 minutes by car from Yamashiro Ossen, JR station
About KAI Brand
"Japanese Auberge" in classic hot spring regions
KAI is a leading brand of hot spring ryokan where every establishment offers a contemporary take on traditional Japanese inn whilst keeping Western comforts. KAI invites one to discover the multifaceted aspects of Japan through natural hot springs, exploration of local arts and entertainment, and classic Kaiseki-style course meals using local and seasonal flavors. Experience Washoku, Japanese cuisine, presented on carefully selected ceramics for full exposure to culinary sensations.
About Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts was first established as a Japanese inn/ryokan in 1914 in Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture before it began the operation of other resorts in Japan. Today, it has evolved into a highly influential hotel management company and is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino. Providing a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi, Japanese-style hospitality, the company has expanded rapidly out of Karuizawa since 2001 and now operates more than 60 accommodations both in and outside Japan with one of the following categories: luxury hotel brand “HOSHINOYA,” hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” countryside resort hotel brand “RISONARE,” city tourism hotel brand “OMO,” free-spirited hotel brand “BEB,” or other unique lodgings.
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