- Attractions by Region -
Three absolute highlights you shouldn’t miss in Ishikawa.
Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens
Yukitsuri snow ropes and Kasumigaike Pond weave a seasonal tapestry of garden beauty. During early-morning free entry hours, the paths are serene, birdsong the only soundtrack.
The world’s only “Chirihama Nagisa Driveway”
An ~8 km hard-packed beach you can actually drive on, right at the water’s edge. At dusk the horizon-swallowing sunset and shimmering water-mirror silhouette your car—an “Milky Way by the sea.”
“Cape of Sanctuary” on the Noto Peninsula
From the Blue Cave observatory atop sheer cliffs, cobalt seas meet a crimson sunset. It’s one of those horizons where you can almost feel the Earth’s curve.
One of Japan’s top three landscape gardens. Kasumigaike Pond, the iconic Kotoji-toro lantern, and the snow-roped Karasaki Pine compose a living art of Kaga domain.
Were the “Six Attributes” a retrofitted slogan?
“Spaciousness, Seclusion, Artificiality, Antiquity, Water-courses, and Panoramas” were attached in 1822—about 150 years after landscaping began. Before that it was simply “Hasuike Garden.”
Yukitsuri snow ropes weren’t for looks but a “wire-frame” to protect the Karasaki Pine. The 200-year-old tree-saving hack was devised by samurai. Also, one of Japan’s oldest “fountains” runs pump-free—the 3.5 m jet is powered purely by the head difference with Kasumigaike. Edo-period hydraulics FTW.
Stone-paved lanes lined with kimusuko lattice facades—Kanazawa’s premier geisha quarter. Time-travel vibes with a gold-leaf ice cream in hand.
Two-story houses = status reserved for teahouses
In Edo times samurai homes were largely single-story; only officially sanctioned teahouses could add a second floor. The angle of the lattice keeps passersby from peeking in while letting patrons enjoy the stage.
At the preserved teahouse Shima there’s no closet—kimono and drums were “display storage,” the very image of chic. Commissioned finery by geisha spurred Kaga Yuzen dyeing and Wajima lacquerware—an economic booster in disguise.
Seat of the mighty Maeda clan. The restored Gojukken Nagaya and Hishi Yagura showcase a “museum of stone walls.”
No main keep—defense by psychology and stone
After the Osaka Campaign the Maeda avoided rebuilding a tenshu keep to not provoke the Tokugawa, and instead knitted seven stone masonry styles into a camo-like fortress. Ishikawa Gate is actually a back gate, and its roof was once lead—urban legend says it could be recast into bullets in a siege.
Restoration lumber came from 12 prefectures, assembled mostly without nails using Edo-era joinery wedges. Interior tours reveal “living preservation” in action.
A 28 m “warship-shaped” monolith rises from the sea—an emblem of Noto said to have been “spotted” by Kobo Daishi.
Low tide challenge: reach it on foot
When the tide recedes, a rocky path appears, letting you walk to its base (watch your footing!). The small torii atop is a guardian of maritime safety.
At night it’s lit up: a white rock levitating over black sea—a natural projection mapping scene.
1,004 pocket-sized paddies blanket the slope jutting into the Sea of Japan—Noto’s “Laputa.”
Average plot size: 18 m²—no room for tractors
With machines shut out, every step from planting to harvest is done by hand. A nationwide owner system supports preservation—you can “own” a terrace for a year.
Twilight turns paddies into mirrors, layering sky, sea and rice. In autumn-winter the “Aze no Kirameki” illumination sets ~20,000 solar LEDs ablaze like ears of light.
“Kanazawa’s kitchen” for 300 years. Over 170 shops crowd narrow alleys—seafood bowls and Kaga vegetables perfuming a foodie paradise.
Chaotic? Actually a silent “zoning diorama”
Fish, produce and dried goods stalls naturally cluster into zones—maze-like yet circulation-friendly. The name traces to enterprising Omi merchants.
In winter, rows of Kano crab line stalls—tag colors differ by sex per local rule. Hunt local veg like Kaga cucumbers and Gorojima sweet potatoes. Price tags are just a “starting bid”—banter and bargain for the full flavor.
Trapdoors, hidden stairs and a sudden “seppuku room”—a maze protecting the Maeda lord. A “ninja-less ninja temple.”
Four stories outside, seven inside—mind-bending geometry
To dodge Tokugawa suspicion, the bell tower was disguised as a watchtower; below the Buddha hall ran an escape tunnel. Guided tours by reservation only—modern visitors still get lost.
The main hall’s roof beams form a reversed swastika (manji), a fire-resilient layout to delay collapse—an Edo escape room built with budget and brains.
Drive right on the wave line! 8 km of sand compressed as hard as asphalt—the world’s only natural seaside highway.
Even buses can roll—thanks to 0.25 mm sand
Tiny grains compact with seawater to near-concrete hardness. Tires glide without leaving marks—it feels surreal.
Go at sunset; the windshield frames a dive into the horizon. Check official updates for closures—wave height rules the road.
Ocher earthen walls and canals line a “samurai lane.” Nomura-ke’s superb garden holds two Michelin stars.
Winter-only “komo-kake” = a down jacket for walls
Straw mats wrap earthen walls against frost damage, painting golden stripes onto snowy scenes—catnip for photographers.
The Ono-sho canal once handled fire defense, daily life and logistics. Carp still swim—running water remains the neighborhood’s soundtrack.
Guardian of the castle town enshrining Toshiie Maeda and his wife O-Matsu. The eclectic gate—Japanese, Chinese and Western—sports stained glass.
Three-layer gate: “Meiji-era tower condo” theory
Japanese base, Chinese middle, Western top with a lantern room. Designed by Dutch engineer de Rijke; the glass reportedly shone seaward as a lighthouse at night.
A giant “namazu-o” helmet sculpture (after Toshiie’s crest) stands on the grounds—an underrated photo stop for warlord fans.
A “little sister” geisha quarter by the Sai River—perfect for mellow evenings.
Fewer tourists = live shamisen ambience
Founded the same year as Higashi but about a third the size, Nishi’s lanes fill with shamisen and drum beats after dark—surround sound geisha culture.
The Nishi Chaya Museum displays hairpins, shamisen and lavish party sets—an excellent peek into the economics of dance and drink.
A disc-shaped glass pavilion that blends into the city—“a park of contemporary art.” Leandro Erlich’s Swimming Pool is a hit.
Architecture designed around the art
Permanent works like the Pool and James Turrell pieces were commissioned before the building was finalized—art guided the blueprints. With no “front,” the round plan embodies “a park you can enter from anywhere.”
At night the glass perimeter glows like a showcase—post-closing hours might be the most Instagrammable time (you didn’t hear it from us).
One of the largest tanks on the Sea of Japan coast with whale sharks cruising. Walk-through dolphin tunnel and penguin parades—“satoyama/satoumi academy.”
Projection mapping = an underwater planetarium
The Blue World tank syncs light and sound, with whale shark silhouettes surfacing like constellations (summer nights).
Local marine life shines too—watch giant spider crab molting and pet starfish in a satoyama/satoumi touch pool.
A grand “welcome gate” hailed among the world’s most beautiful stations. Massive Hiba cypress “drums” usher travelers into Kaga’s realm.
Wooden yet snow-load rated to 3 m—plus a giant umbrella dome
The 13.7 m twin pillars twist 24 timbers into a helical clasp inspired by noh drums. Behind, the Motenashi Dome uses 3,000+ glass panels—locals can reach the gates without opening an umbrella.
By night, wood grain glows copper-red while the glass canopy twinkles like a nebula—“stage lighting” for wood and glass.
Colossal lanterns up to 20 m tall and 2 tons parade through fishing towns—Noto’s fiery answer to Burning Man.
July–October, every weekend is “Fire Friday” somewhere
Kiriko are giant painted lanterns. Two hundred men shoulder them, drenching them with torch sparks before charging into the sea for a splashdown cool-off.
Each town’s shapes and ornaments differ—devotees “rally” across 3 towns in one night. Floating light-boxes color Noto’s summer like mobile art.
A 12 m, 20-ton “running float” blasts down narrow streets—UNESCO-listed spectacle.
No steering—corner by human drift
Two-meter wood wheels are tugged by 120 people; to turn, the whole float is lifted and slid. Eaves graze by, spectators gasp.
Kabuki dolls on the upper stage strike poses via cables even in motion. By night 350 lanterns glow—Nanao’s blood-pumping three-day time carnival.
Ichinomiya (top shrine) of Noto. Beloved for matchmaking blessings. The “Forbidden Forest” opens only once a year.
The cormorant omen—nationally listed folk ritual
Every December priests catch a cormorant at sea, release it inside the shrine and divine the year by its flight.
With the sacred forest largely untouched, even the air feels “purified.”
A river gorge through Yamanaka Onsen. The S-shaped magenta Ayatori Bridge and the wooden Korogi Bridge form a photogenic duo.
A bridge designed as ikebana
Created by Sogetsu school master Hiroshi Teshigahara, the vivid curve paints the ravine with modern color; night illumination is a must-see.
The riverside café runs April–October—sip matcha and listen to stream ASMR.
Over 1,300 years old. “Soyu” public bath and the restored “Ko-Soyu” anchor a hot-spring quarter lined with Kutani ware galleries.
Experience Edo-style bathing: soak only
At Ko-Soyu, no soap or showers—just quiet immersion in a jewel-toned tiled bath, the Meiji way.
Rosanjin Kitaoji honed his culinary aesthetics here; tour his former residence to trace how vessels shape cuisine.
A minimalist space to “read” the Zen philosopher’s thought through architecture—the contemplation room floats over a mirror pond.
Silence is the main exhibit
Captions are minimal—photos and words nudge you to sit and simply think.
Staring at the sky reflected in water, you might hear lines from Zen and Japanese Culture—even smartphone pings fade in this mindful refuge.
Praised by Basho. Relax in hot springs and stroll a town famed for Yamanaka lacquerware.
Public “Kiku-no-Yu” bath is a local living room
Silky 43℃ sulfate springs. Afterward, grab a lacquerware ice sandwich on the craft street.
The winter “capybara snow bath” racks up tens of millions of views—animal therapy meets hot springs.
A “Kaga craft village” of thatched houses where you can try 50+ traditional crafts—Wajima lacquer, Kutani painting, gold-leaf gilding and more.
Gold-leaf galore
Kanazawa produces 99% of Japan’s gold leaf. Gild anything from chopsticks to phone cases—the stockpile dazzles.
Food culture experiences—from irori hearth grilling to soba making—make you a “craft apprentice in half a day.”
One of Japan’s “Three Famous Mountains” with Fuji and Tateyama. A floral paradise with many species bearing “Hakusan” in their names.
Summit shrine above the sea of clouds
The Okumiya of Shirayama-hime stands on Gozengamine. Catch a Brocken spectre at sunrise and you’ve got bragging rights for life.
Trails range from beginner-friendly Ichinose to the tougher Bettodeai. Mountain huts require reservations—plan ahead.
Head shrine of 3,000 Shirayama shrines nationwide. Worship the goddess Kukurihime for bonds in love and life.
Cedar avenue = a natural time tunnel
Millennial cedars flank the path, phytoncides working a brain detox as you walk.
Behind the main hall stands the “Three Cedars,” ~700 years old. For matchmaking, circle clockwise once—it’s tradition.
8 km of sheer cliffs carved from pyroclastic flows—an emerald splash zone. The roar of Watagiri Falls is epic.
Minus 3°C in summer—natural mist sauna at Furo Bridge
Spray reaches the bridge; it’s chilly even in August. In winter the “yellow fall” forms—grail shot for explorers.
Rock layers were once volcanic ash 100,000 years ago—geology nerds, note the banding.
Sea-carved arches and rock sculptures line the coast—best admired from sightseeing boats.
A 15 m high, 60 m deep “sea cathedral”
Wave echoes under the cliffside trail make a natural pipe organ. Legends recall Yoshitsune hiding boats here.
A filming site for Zero Focus—mystery lovers, this is your pilgrimage.
A preserved Edo-period climbing kiln (National Historic Site). Learn the bold palette of “Japan Kutani” and paint your own small dish.
Inside the kiln: a 19th-century ceramic engine room
Stepwise chambers increase temperature upslope, letting artisans fire different tones in one go.
The studio uses genuine gosu blue and Japanese pigments—your doodle might return next month as “serious art.”
Otherworldly rock garden and flaming autumn leaves—Basho was floored: “Whiter than stone of Ishiyama, autumn wind.”
“Womb passage” = a reset cave
Bow before the principal image then squeeze through the rock—rebirth blessings tied to Hakusan mountain faith blending with nature worship.
The main hall is an Important Cultural Property; the garden is Michelin-starred—hybrid beauty of nature and temple.
A graceful 1,050 m curve over Nanao Bay—sea, islands and sky layer your windshield like a kaleidoscope.
Pull over mid-bridge
Opened 1982. Use the center parking bays for “sky-sea picnics”—curved rails create perfect reflections in photos.
Sunset silhouettes the span and passing ships; if lucky, a pod of dolphins swims below.
Hokuriku head temple of Nichiren Buddhism. The National Treasure five-story pagoda anchors ten Important Cultural Properties—wooden Avengers assemble.
Centerless pagoda core = seismic flex like Skytree
A hollow central shaft dissipates sway; kofun-shingled roofs trace elegant curves—the Kaga aesthetic distilled.
The temple layout is one of the sect’s largest. Early-morning sutra chanting (by reservation) shakes the chest with low-frequency waves.
Opened 2022—feel “wrapped in books” under a saw-tooth roof. A 12 m book tower supercharges your reading mood.
Wi-Fi SSID reads “Oidemasshi Library”
Designed by C+A. The gabled roofs resemble an open book; inside, 10,000 local cedar louvers layer a hushed “sound hall.”
The spiral “book tree” stacks ~60,000 volumes. Socials call it a “modern Mt. Shoshazan.” Sip coffee in a Kutani mug and go forest bathing in knowledge.