Kakusenkei is the narrow river gorge that runs through Yamanaka Onsen, and the walk along its bank is the single best stretch of scenery in Kaga. A paved path follows the Daishoji River for about 1.3 kilometres between the Korogi Bridge — a wooden span dating to the Edo period — and the Ayatori Bridge, a striking modern S-curve in steel and cedar. In between, the river turns over a series of shallow pools and small waterfalls under a canopy of beech and maple.
The path includes a couple of small caves and a teahouse halfway along — the Kakusenkei Kawadoko — that sets up a riverside platform from late spring through autumn, serving green tea and wagashi over the running water. Cherry blossoms in April and red maples in November are the marquee seasons, but the walk is pleasant year-round. Allow forty-five minutes one way and longer if you stop for tea.