culture

The town of Yamanaka has a 1000-year history of travelers visiting it’s onsen, the natural hot springs that feed the public baths at the town’s heart. Over the centuries, monks, merchant seamen, and itinerant artists (including the poet Matsuo Basho) have influenced Yamanaka’s culture. Wood workers settled here at the source of their material, and sold their wares as souvenirs. To this day, Yamanaka is relatively isolated, yet has a deep creative culture supported and influenced by its many visitors.