Yunokuni Tensho — the ryokan where everyone in the group is happy with the onsen at Yamashiro
Have you ever been to a ryokan with the whole family and found the baths too few, the queues too long? Yunokuni Tensho is the direct answer to that problem. This large 136-room ryokan in Yamashiro Onsen, Ishikawa Prefecture, scores 9.4 on Trip.com, and the detail that comes up in almost every review is the same: 3 bathing zones giving guests a choice of up to 18 different onsen baths in a single night — indoor pools, open-air rotenburo, sauna, rotating between men and women by timetable. Families, friend groups, couples — everyone gets their fill.
Yunokuni Tensho stands in Yamashiro Onsen, one of the three famed hot-spring towns of Kaga — alongside Yamanaka and Katayamazu. The location is well connected: take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kaga Onsen Station, then board the ryokan's shuttle for around 20 minutes. While Yamashiro is not inside Kanazawa city itself, getting here is straightforward as long as you arrange the shuttle in advance when you make your reservation.
"The staff were incredibly warm and attentive, and there were so many onsen baths we couldn't get through them all in one night — several guests in our group said it was the best ryokan trip they'd ever had."
What makes Yunokuni Tensho genuinely different from most ryokan is the sheer breadth of its 3-zone onsen system — the most varied in this category. The three bathing areas together cover indoor pools, open-air rotenburo, and sauna, and they rotate between men's and women's use throughout the day and evening. The result is that guests can choose from up to 18 different bath types in a single stay — meaning that no matter how many people are in your group, everyone has the chance to try their preferred bath in their preferred atmosphere.
For families travelling with children or groups looking for comfort at scale, the ryokan's 136-room capacity means availability is rarely a concern. Rooms are laid out in classic Japanese style — spacious enough for families, and certain categories include a private open-air bath for those who prefer total privacy. The service score stands at 9.5, and reviews consistently mention staff who are friendly, helpful and genuinely hospitable in the best tradition of Japanese hospitality.
Meals are an integral part of the ryokan experience here. Yunokuni Tensho offers a choice of kaiseki or buffet dinner depending on the package booked, with breakfast included. At ¥28,000 per night for two guests — covering two meals and unlimited access to the onsen facilities — the price-to-value ratio holds up well against comparable ryokan in the region.
It is worth being straightforward about the trade-offs. Because Yunokuni Tensho is a large-scale ryokan, the atmosphere does not have the intimate, private feeling of a boutique ryokan with 20 or 30 rooms. During peak holiday periods the baths may be shared with a number of other guests at the same time. And the Yamashiro location means that anyone wanting to explore Kanazawa city's famous Kenroku-en garden, Higashi Chaya district or Omicho Market would need to factor in a separate journey.
A piece of advice that regular guests pass along: check the onsen zone rotation timetable at the front desk the moment you check in. Each zone is open to one gender for a set period, and some of the most popular baths have limited windows. Getting a copy of the schedule when you arrive — and mapping out which baths you want to try across the evening and morning — is the best way to make full use of all 18 options. Ask the front desk for the rotation schedule as soon as you check in.
In short, Yunokuni Tensho is the right choice for families or groups of friends who want maximum onsen variety and a genuine Japanese ryokan experience at a price that makes sense. If your main goal is to soak in as many different baths as possible and enjoy a proper kaiseki dinner, this place delivers on both counts. Prices start from ¥28,000/night for 2 guests, meals included.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ 3 bathing zones with up to 18 onsen options per night — the most in this category
- ✓ Ideal for families and groups · 136 rooms with solid availability
- ✓ Warm, attentive staff · service score 9.5
- ✓ Kaiseki and breakfast included · good value for an onsen ryokan
- ! Large-scale ryokan — atmosphere less intimate than small boutique ryokan
- ! Busy periods may mean the baths are shared with more guests
- ! Located in Yamashiro, not central Kanazawa — plan additional travel if you want to sightsee
- ✓ Most varied onsen selection — try multiple bath styles in one night
- ✓ Classic Japanese-style rooms, spacious · some with private open-air baths
- ✓ Meals included in the rate · good kaiseki value
- ✓ Convenient by Shinkansen to Kaga Onsen Station with hotel shuttle
- ! 136 rooms means a larger, busier property — not the quietest ryokan
- ! Yamashiro is away from Kanazawa city — not suited to daily city sightseeing
- ! 40-review sample — a medium-sized dataset
- 💡If you want a quiet, highly private atmosphere — a 136-room ryokan feels more like a large resort than an intimate inn → consider Kayotei or Araya-Totoan for a smaller-scale, more secluded experience.
- 💡If you plan to sightsee in Kanazawa city every day — Yamashiro Onsen is further out → a hotel in central Kanazawa city is more practical, with Yamashiro as a possible day trip for the onsen.
- 💡If you're booking over a major holiday — this ryokan is popular with Japanese families too → book 2-3 months ahead and ask for the onsen zone rotation timetable at check-in to make the most of your stay.