A day on the Noto Peninsula 能登半島の一日
The wild coast of Japan
With its rugged coastline, rice fields, and serene villages, the Noto Peninsula is an ideal place to visit, just a stone's throw away from Kanazawa. We recommend a rental car to maximize your trip for easy navigation.
North of Ishikawa Prefecture, Noto Peninsula is poorly served by public transport, as it's remote and sparsely populated.
To make the most of this exceptional peninsula, we advise you to rent a car or join a tour from Kanazawa.
Head north
Heading north from Kanazawa, the first stop will be the long beach of Chirihama. Chirihama Nagisa Driveway is an 8 km stretch of sandy beach where you can drive a car. It is the only beach in Japan where driving is permitted, surely a unique experience. And if you need a snack, take the opportunity to taste the various grilled shellfish on offer, a specialty of the area.
Take the coastal road from Kongo, which extends over a dozen kilometers along the Sea of Japan. Shaped by the breaking waves, this rugged coast offers beautiful scenery including some very famous rock formations.
Ganmon, literally "gate door", because the hole in the rock formation resembles a gate, is one of them. A little further north, the two rocks Hatago Iwa, are interconnected by a shimenawa, a special rope used in the Shinto religion to indicate that a place is sacred.
Cultural tour
Continue to Wajima, and don't miss Soji-ji Temple, about an hour's drive north of Kanazawa. Founded in 1321, it was one of the largest monasteries of the Soto branch of Zen Buddhism in Japan.
Some buildings survived the fire that destroyed the monastery in 1898, while others were reformed. The buildings and grounds exude calm and serenity.
After half an hour's drive you reach the Noto peninsula lighthouse Wajima. The morning market (every day from 8 am to noon) is one of the three largest markets in the archipelago where you can buy local products and souvenirs.
Wajima is also very famous for its production of lacquerware. Fans can visit the Museum of Lacquerware, Wajima Urushi Art Museum Wajima, or Shikki Kaikan, where you'll learn about this ancient art, and get the chance to buy some. The Museum of giant lanterns, Kiriko Hall, is also worth seeing. Wajima is also the perfect place for a seafood lunch.
Wild beauty
After visiting the town area, return to the countryside and visit the magnificent Senmaida rice terraces (thousand rice fields), a sight of thousands of small rice fields that tumble down to the sea. A sight to see and a great photo opportunity!
If you still have time, push further north, in the region of Okunoto, the "inner Noto". On the east coast of the peninsula, the island-rock Mitsuke-jima has become the emblem of the area. Some 3 km away, there are some other rock formations to visit off the Koiji beach.
A well deserved rest
On the way back to Kanazawa, a stop in the spa town of Wakura onsen offers a moment of relaxation after busy day. Enjoy a few hours in the baths or ryokan, and maybe even spend the night.
Discover Kanazawa: What to do in Kanazawa?
