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Mat is branch manager at our office in Boulder Colorado. A committed marathon-runner, he loves to run all over Japan – where he lived for three years in Yamanashi Prefecture. In this post, he introduces us to Yamanaka Onsen through the eyes of a runner.
This is the fourth blog piece I’ve written based around the hook of running. The previous three featured Osaka, Tokyo and Nakanoshima (in the Oki Islands) respectively; each a very different place, each a very different run.
In Osaka I ran during that witching hour when endings and beginnings intermingle like cream just poured into coffee. My day was just beginning but, for many, a drunken night was wearily drawing to a close. Tokyo saw me join a ritualistic movement, slipping into the procession of nimble-footed enthusiasts in laps around the verdant Imperial Palace grounds. The island run proved a world away from these two pulsating cityscapes, with rustling rice paddies, birds of prey and idyllic coastal vistas the canvas through which I moved.
This time I ran in beautiful Yamanaka Onsen, a hot spring resort in the lush green mountains of Ishikawa Prefecture. The town itself is small and charming, with a good mix of shops, museums and local artisans plying their crafts. However for me the real gem was the Kakusenkei Gorge, which snakes alongside and below the town itself, hidden away by the canopy of dense trees. The river cut through swiftly providing good hunting for herons, whilst the air was alive with a cacophony of insects. Needless to say this probably accounted for the abundance of beautiful yet equally terrifying-looking orb spiders hanging in ornate webs waiting to feast. Spiders were not the only predator, as I stumbled upon a snake in the midst of devouring an unfortunate lizard!
Combining the gorge with the quiet town streets and lazy mountain roads above provided plenty of scope to rack up the miles. It was the ideal way to start my day in this lovely mountain town.
The hot spring town of Yamanaka Onsen is easily incorporated into any Self-Guided Adventure. Why not speak to one of our travel consultants to find out what they can do for you? Click here to begin planning now.