【Sauna Review】APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo Ishikawa Japan

During a family trip to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, we decided to stay at a hot spring resort on our way home.

I frequently stay at APA Hotels for business trips and have stayed at their hotels more than 20 nights a year. As a result, I became an Executive Member of the APA Hotel membership program and achieved Platinum status with the APA Stayers Club Card (ASC).

This time, I used a complimentary accommodation voucher for two people, including dinner and breakfast, which I received as an annual benefit of my ASC Platinum membership.

The hotel I visited was APA Hotel & Resort Kaga Katayamazu Onsen Kasuikyo, located in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Although the sauna itself may not fully satisfy serious sauna enthusiasts, I was very satisfied with it as part of a traditional Japanese hot spring resort. In particular, relaxing outdoors while enjoying the beautiful view of Lake Shibayamagata was absolutely wonderful!

In this article, I’ll share my experience using the hotel’s sauna facilities, including the sauna room, cold bath, and outdoor relaxation area.

Overall, Kasuikyo was an excellent hotel, and I would love to return every year as long as I can continue receiving the complimentary accommodation benefit!

For more information about my family trip to the Hokuriku region, check out my travel article below.

Related article

Hokuriku Japan Trip: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Kaga Onsen & Fukui Dinosaur Museum

Basic Information About APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo

Before reviewing the sauna, let me introduce some basic information about the hotel.

① What Is APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo?

APA Hotel & Resort Kaga Katayamazu Onsen Kasuikyo is a luxury Japanese-style hot spring resort operated by the APA Group. It is located in Katayamazu Onsen, a hot spring area in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Although the hotel belongs to the APA Hotel group, it is quite different from the typical business hotels that many travelers associate with the brand.

Kasuikyo is located beside Lake Shibayamagata, and one of its biggest attractions is that every guest room offers a lake view. In addition to its natural hot springs, the hotel is known for its Japanese cuisine featuring seasonal ingredients.
There are also various facilities, including karaoke rooms, table tennis, and banquet halls.

Interestingly, Kasuikyo has also hosted matches of the Eiō title competition, one of the eight major title competitions in professional Japanese shogi (Japanese chess). This gives you an idea of the hotel’s traditional atmosphere and prestigious character.

Before visiting, I honestly expected something like a slightly more luxurious version of a typical APA Hotel.

However, I was pleasantly surprised!
From the entrance to the interior decorations, everything felt much more luxurious than I had imagined. In fact, the atmosphere was so elegant that I initially felt a little out of place! Despite its luxurious appearance, the hotel was also very comfortable and welcoming.

Overall, I was extremely satisfied with Kasuikyo as a traditional Japanese hot spring resort.

② Access

１）By Car

APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo is conveniently accessible by car.

Approximate driving times are:

• 10 minutes from Kagaonsen Station
• 20 minutes from Komatsu Airport
• 5 minutes from Katayamazu Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway

The hotel also has a free parking lot with approximately 250 spaces.

２）By Train

If you are traveling by train, head to Kagaonsen Station, served by the Hokuriku Shinkansen and IR Ishikawa Railway.

From Kagaonsen Station, the hotel operates a complimentary shuttle bus service. Advance reservations are required.

For the return journey, please inform the hotel reception of your preferred departure time.

For more information, please visit the hotel’s official access page.
https://www.apahotel.com/resort/kasuikyo/access

​ Please note that transportation schedules may change, so I recommend checking the latest information with the hotel before your visit.

③ Opening Hours and Admission Fees

The sauna is located inside the hotel’s large public bathing facility, called Tamayura no Yu.

You can use the sauna as part of your hot spring experience.

１）For Hotel Guests

Opening hours:

• 3:00 PM–1:00 AM
• 5:00 AM–10:00 AM

The use of the public bath and sauna is included in the accommodation fee. Of course, the total accommodation cost depends on your room and meal plan.

２）For Day Visitors

According to the official Ishikawa tourism website, the facility also accepts day visitors.

Opening hours:

• From 2:00 PM

Admission fees:

• Adults: ¥1,500
• Children aged 4–11: ¥750

I could not find detailed information about day-use admission on the APA Hotel official website, so I referred to the Ishikawa Prefecture tourism website.
https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/reserve/detail_10715.html

Please contact the hotel directly to confirm the latest admission fees, opening hours, and availability of day-use bathing.

④ Are Tattoos Allowed?

If you have tattoos, please check the hotel’s bathing rules before visiting.

According to APA Hotels’ official policy, guests with tattoos are generally not permitted to use the large public baths unless their tattoos can be completely covered with designated tattoo cover stickers. Each sticker measures 10 cm × 12 cm (approximately 3.9 × 4.7 inches), and guests may use up to two stickers. Hotel guests can receive up to two stickers per person per night free of charge at the front desk.

If your tattoos are too large to be completely covered by these stickers, you cannot use the shared bathing facilities under this policy.

Official APA Hotel tattoo policy:
https://www.apahotel.com/customer/stay-services/39

As the rules may vary or change, I recommend contacting APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo directly before your visit.

If you’re planning to visit a sauna or public bath in Japan, it’s also important to understand Japanese bathing etiquette.
From washing your body before entering the bath to following the rules about towels, tattoos, and sauna behavior, there are several customs that may be unfamiliar to international visitors.

Shingo

I’ve put together a separate guide explaining these rules to help you enjoy Japanese saunas and hot springs comfortably and respectfully. Please refer to the article below.

Related article

Japanese Sauna Etiquette: Rules & Manners You Should Know Before Visiting

Sauna Review

As mentioned earlier, the sauna is located inside Tamayura no Yu, the hotel’s large public bathing facility.

The entrance has a beautiful Japanese-style design, creating a relaxing atmosphere even before you enter the bathing area.

In this review, I’ll focus specifically on the sauna facilities rather than the hot spring baths themselves.

① Sauna Room

Image source: APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo Official Website　https://www.apahotel.com/resort/kasuikyo/spa/

The sauna is a traditional Japanese dry sauna with high temperatures and low humidity.

There is no automatic löyly system, and guests cannot perform self-löyly either. For those unfamiliar with the term, löyly refers to pouring water over heated sauna stones to produce steam and increase the perceived heat.

Since neither type of löyly is available here, the sauna room is quite dry. The temperature was approximately 92°C (198°F) when I visited. Although the temperature was relatively high, I personally found the experience a little underwhelming because there was no löyly.

However, if you prefer a traditional dry sauna and enjoy spending a longer time warming up, you may find it quite comfortable.

The sauna room was larger than I expected. There were benches with enough space for approximately 15 people.

Inside the room, I also found a thermometer and a 12-minute sauna clock.

I visited at around 6:00 AM on a weekday. Perhaps because it was early in the morning and the sauna was inside a hotel, there were no other guests using it. I had the entire sauna room to myself!

Having a spacious sauna all to myself was certainly a nice experience.

② Cold Bath

Image source: APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo Official Website　https://www.apahotel.com/resort/kasuikyo/spa/

After leaving the sauna room, you will find a cold bath just before entering the outdoor bathing area.

The cold bath is relatively small. I would say it can comfortably accommodate about two adults at most.

There was no water temperature display, so I couldn’t check the exact temperature. Based on how the water felt, I estimated it to be around 17°C (63°F). Personally, I found it slightly warmer than I prefer.

Still, it was refreshing enough to cool down after spending time in the sauna.

③ Outdoor Relaxation Area

Image source: APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo Official Website　https://www.apahotel.com/resort/kasuikyo/spa/

Now, let me introduce my favorite part of the experience!

Technically speaking, this is an outdoor hot spring bathing area rather than a dedicated sauna relaxation space. However, you can also use it to cool down and relax after your sauna session.

When I visited, there were two plastic chairs and a bench along the wall that could accommodate approximately three people. The chairs are not visible in the official photograph, but they were available during my visit.

And the best part was the view!
Sitting outside while looking directly at Lake Shibayamagata was absolutely fantastic. The peaceful lake scenery made the outdoor relaxation experience especially memorable. For me, this was definitely the highlight of the sauna facilities.

However, the number of chairs is limited. If all the seats are occupied, you may have to wait or find another place to relax.

Although it is not directly related to the sauna, I also highly recommend the outdoor individual soaking tub.

Image source: APA Hotel & Resort Kaga Katayamazu Onsen Kasuikyo Official Website https://www.apahotel.com/resort/kasuikyo/gallery

The water temperature was just right for me—not too hot and not too lukewarm. I could relax in the hot spring while admiring the beautiful lake scenery. It was such a wonderful experience!

If you visit Kasuikyo, I definitely recommend spending some time enjoying the outdoor baths as well as the sauna.

Final Thoughts: Is the Sauna at APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo Worth Visiting?

Overall, I was very satisfied with my experience at APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo.

From the perspective of a serious sauna enthusiast, the sauna itself may feel a little basic. There is no löyly, the cold bath is relatively small, and the outdoor relaxation area has only a limited number of seats.

However, when you consider the sauna as part of a traditional Japanese hot spring resort, the experience is much more appealing. The spacious dry sauna, refreshing cold bath, and especially the beautiful view of Lake Shibayamagata make for a relaxing experience.

Above all, I really enjoyed the combination of Japanese hot springs and sauna culture.

If you are looking for a specialized sauna facility with advanced equipment and a wide variety of sauna experiences, Kasuikyo may not be your first choice.

On the other hand, if you want to enjoy a relaxing stay at a Japanese hot spring resort while also experiencing a sauna, I think Kasuikyo is an excellent option.

I would certainly love to visit again!

If you are planning a trip around Ishikawa Prefecture or the Hokuriku region, consider adding Kasuikyo to your itinerary.

You can also read about my family’s three-day trip to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Kaga Onsen, and Fukui Dinosaur Museum here:

Related article

Hokuriku Japan Trip: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Kaga Onsen & Fukui Dinosaur Museum

That’s all for my sauna review of APA Hotel & Resort Kasuikyo!
Thank you for reading!

Fin

鳴山シンゴ / Shingo Naruyama

化学メーカー社員／ブロガー | Chemical Manufacturer Employee / Blogger

XInstagramContact

世界を旅するブロガーを目指す30代化学メーカー社員。趣味（読書、カメラ、サウナ、旅行、バドミントン）やお金・ライフハック関連の記事を投稿しています！ ｜ English ｜ Japan-based blogger working for a chemical manufacturer. I share real experiences and practical tips about travel, saunas, activities, and everyday life in Japan.