Kochou is a seven-room inn beside the Kakusenkei Gorge in Yamanaka Onsen, Ishikawa, about a two-minute walk from the gorge path. It serves Kaga kaiseki on Kutani porcelain and Yamanaka lacquerware, and says it hopes to be “the kindest inn in Japan.” Before you book, three things matter: there is no booking page on the inn’s own website, so you contact it directly; the free shuttle from Kaga-Onsen Station needs a reservation and does not run after 18:00; and the official pages give no room prices.
Kochou at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | Ho-1 Kajika-cho, Yamanaka Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa 922-0126 |
| Phone | +81-761-78-4500 (8:00–20:00) |
| Rooms | 7 (seven groups a day) |
| Check-in / out | From 14:00 / by 11:00 |
| Hot spring | Calcium-sodium sulfate spring, 48.3°C |
| Baths | Two shared baths (swap at 22:00), one private bath, rooms with open-air baths |
| Meals | Kaga kaiseki in private dining rooms |
| Shuttle | Free from JR Kaga-Onsen Station, by reservation, not after 18:00 |
| Parking | About 30 cars |
| Payment | Major credit cards and debit cards, paid at the inn |
From the official Japanese and English pages, read October 21, 2026.
Which room should you choose at Kochou?
The inn’s theme is “flowers, birds, wind and moon,” and each of the seven rooms has a name. The official room pages give the layout and the view, but not room sizes or capacity for most rooms; ask the inn when you contact it.
What is the Jurakudai suite?
Jurakudai is a two-story shoin-style building from 1940. The first floor has its own indoor and open-air bath and a private dining area of tatami rooms; the second floor has two 8-mat rooms and a 12-mat bedroom with beds. It has three toilets, a shower room, Wi-Fi and two gardens, and the staff try not to enter the upstairs rooms during your stay.
What are the other rooms like?
- Iwafune: a designer suite supervised by Girolamo Panzetta, with large windows over the valley.
- Kajika: a connecting room of tatami plus a modern living area with sofas, overlooking Korogi Bridge.
- Korogi and Kurotani: rooms with a private open-air bath facing the valley.
- Takase and Shirasagi: standard rooms that look out on the gorge and Ayatori Bridge.
Every room lists a TV, free Wi-Fi, a kettle and tea set, a refrigerator and minibar, a hair dryer, toiletries, towels and a yukata. For wheelchair users, the inn lends wheelchairs and asks you to contact it in advance.
Meals at Kochou
What is dinner like?
Dinner is Kaga kaiseki built on local dishes and old Kaga cooking methods, served on Kutani porcelain and Yamanaka lacquerware. The head chef is Shuji Mitani and the sous chef is Junichiro Mitani; the inn also presents a fusion of kaiseki and French cooking. Meals are served in private dining rooms with seasonal views; Jurakudai guests eat both dinner and breakfast in their own building.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
The official pages do not say. Breakfast style is not described either. If you have an allergy or follow a vegetarian, halal or other diet, write to the inn before you book and wait for a reply.
The Yamanaka Onsen baths at Kochou
What are the shared baths?
Tsukikage no Yu runs from an indoor bath to a garden-style open-air bath, and Kawakaze no Yu looks over the Kakusenkei Gorge and Ayatori Bridge. The two swap between men and women at 22:00, so you can try both in one stay. The water is a calcium-sodium sulfate spring at 48.3°C. Opening hours are not on the official pages.
Is there a private bath?
Yes. Yamanami no Yu is a fairly large private bath with views of the mountains and river, which the inn suggests for families. The official pages do not give its hours, fee or how to reserve it.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Ask the inn before you book; the private bath and the rooms with an open-air bath are the questions to raise. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Prices, children, cancellation and payment at Kochou
How much does a stay cost?
The official pages do not list room prices. Ask the inn for a quote when you contact it. Kaga City’s bathing tax form lists 150 yen per person per night for overnight guests, with children under 12 exempt; see our onsen bathing tax guide. Whether the inn’s price includes it is not stated.
What do children cost?
The official pages do not give children’s rates or age rules. Ask when you request a quote.
What is the cancellation policy?
Fees start 7 days before arrival, at 50 percent of the stay, rise to 80 percent from 2 days before, and reach 100 percent on the day or for a no-show. The Japanese and English pages describe the day before arrival differently, so confirm that day’s rate with the inn. See our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay?
At the inn, by credit card: JCB, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club and several Japanese cards, plus debit cards. Cash is not mentioned.
Getting to Kochou in Yamanaka Onsen
Take the train to JR Kaga-Onsen Station. From Tokyo it is about 2 hours 47 minutes on the Hokuriku Shinkansen; from Osaka, take the Thunderbird to Tsuruga (about 1 hour 20 minutes), then the Hakutaka to Kaga-Onsen (33 minutes). The inn’s free shuttle meets you at the station with advance reservation, but not after 18:00. By car, it is about 20 minutes from Kaga IC on the Hokuriku Expressway, with flat parking for about 30 cars. Coming from Kanazawa? Our Kanazawa guide covers the city before you head south.
The Kakusenkei promenade is about two minutes on foot, and Korogi Bridge is about 1 km along it. The inn notes that the path has steps and steep slopes.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Kochou
- The inn has an English website, but no booking page of its own; use the English contact form or call.
- Plan your train so you reach Kaga-Onsen Station before 18:00 if you want the shuttle, and book the shuttle ahead.
- Ask for the price, children’s rates, the tattoo rule and diet options in the same message.
- The baths switch sides at 22:00; check the sign before you go in.
- Massage in your room is available from 16:00 to 22:00 with a reservation.
Frequently asked questions
How many rooms does Kochou have?
How do I book Kochou?
Can I bathe at Kochou with a tattoo?
Is there a shuttle to Kochou?
What time is check-in at Kochou?
Bottom line (2026): Kochou is a quiet seven-room inn on the Kakusenkei Gorge, with Kaga kaiseki, two shared baths that swap at 22:00, a private bath and rooms with their own open-air bath. Contact the inn directly for prices and rules, and book the station shuttle for an arrival before 18:00.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Kochou’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), About Kochou and its Japanese version, guest rooms, Jurakudai, hot springs, cuisine, sightseeing and contact, plus Kaga City’s bathing tax form (Japanese). All were read on October 21, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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