Today's Travel Destination: Kakusenkei Gorge in Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture 鶴仙渓 山中 加賀

Yamanaka is one of the four onsen towns (Yamanaka, Yamashiro, Katayamazu and Awazu) in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture. It is a 1300-year old hot spring village which is well-known for its handcrafted lacquerware. What is more striking about this place is that you cannot see any hanging cables in the city center which makes it more an attractive and picturesque destination. This place is also the home of Kakusenkei Gorge, a 1.3-km stretch of the Daishoji River running through a lush forest.

One of the well-known landmark of Kakusenkei Gorge is Ayatori Bridge, a pink (at least to my eye but according to the Ishikawa travel Website, its color is wine-red), S-shaped bridge which connects the banks of the river. My journey started in Ayatori Bridge, or "Cat's Cradle Bridge" which was designed by the famous ikebana master and avant-garde film director Teshigahara Hiroshi, and ended in Korogi bridge. While walking, you will be rewarded with enchanting landscape while listening to the soothing sounds of the river and the bird calls. This place is also known to be a place once visited by the famous haiku poet Matsuo Bashō who praised the picturesque gorge. While traversing the gorge, you will find Kakusenkei Kawadoko which is a pop-up riverside cafe near the Ayatori bridge. You should try their cake which is not so sweet but was deliciously made.

But this place maybe is more stunning during the autumn season. Yamanaka Onsen can be reached by local bus or the hop-on hop-off CANBUS from Kagaonsen Station.