Kagura Monzen Tojimura

After a day of hiking, the onsen was just what we needed. There are indoor and outdoor baths, plus a mineral cold bath upstairs. The sauna was out of order while we were there, and resort guests can use the baths for free. The food was delicious, too. The Kagura performances were the main draw. Kagura means “entertainment for the gods,” and it’s a lovely way to experience Japanese culture. The audience got bigger as the weekend approached. We visited in autumn as the weather was getting chilly. The stink bugs in our room caught me off guard at first, but they’re common in cold weather and the locals are used to them. You’ll see them at other places around the mountains, too. We dealt with them on our first night.