Noto Peninsula

The Noto Peninsula (能登半島 Noto-hantō) is in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan.

Other Muslim friendly Cities in Noto Peninsula

Anamizu — famous for cultivated oysters
Nanao (Japan) | Nanao — provincial seat of government in ancient times
Wajima — known for lacquerware and its morning market of over 200 stalls
Wakura Onsen — 1200-year-old hot spring town by the seaside
Suzu — on the furthestmost tip of the Noto Peninsula
Hakui — the UFO capital of Japan!

Noto Peninsula Halal Explorer

Noto is one of the most remote parts of mainland Japan. Its first and most famous chronicler was Ōtomo no Yakamochi (大伴家持), an 8th century poet and bureaucrat best known for compiling a large part of the Man'yoshu, Japan's first anthology of poems. In 745, he was appointed governor of Etchu Province (today's Toyama (prefecture) | Toyama), and the poems he wrote during his six-year stay often lament the harshness of his remote posting far away from the splendors of the capital:

志雄路からただ越え来れば羽咋の海朝凪したり船梶もがも

From the Shiwo Road across the mountains to the morning calm of the sea at Hakui|Hakuhi — I wish I had a boat! (Man'yoshu 17/4025)

妹に逢はず久しくなりぬ饒石川きよき瀬ごとに水占はへてな

Away from my wife for so long -- the clear rapids of Ishikawa shall tell my fortune (Man'yoshu 17/4028)

To this day the west coast, battered continuously by the harsh Sea of Japan, is rugged and thinly populated by scattered fishing villages, while the more sheltered east coast around Nanao Bay houses the bulk of the population.

In March 2007, Noto was hit by a strong earthquake that caused significant damage to the northern part of the peninsula, particularly Wajima.

Travel to Noto Peninsula

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Noto Peninsula

Noto Airport (IATA Flight Code: NTQ) fields two ANA daily flights (50 min) to Tokyo (Haneda). The new airport, which is absurdly oversized given the amount of traffic it receives and is located just south of Wajima and is served by a shared taxi system, with rides to/from anywhere on the peninsula costing 700-1800 yen depending on the distance.

Alternatively and the considerably larger airports at Komatsu and Toyama are both roughly two hours away by car.

By Rail

The JR Noto Line putters up from Tsubata on the IR Ishikawa Railway line to Nanao (Japan) | Nanao, terminating a stop north at Wakura Onsen. There are daily direct expresses from Kanazawa to Wakura Onsen, and roughly hourly local services from Kanazawa as far as Nanao (1:30, ¥1280). From either Nanao or Wakura, you can transfer onto the privately run Noto Railway to Anamizu. Onward services to Wajima and Takojima have been terminated.

Travel on a Bus in Noto Peninsula

There are infrequent services from Kanazawa's train station to most larger towns in Noto.

Get Around

Noto is one of those few bits of Japan where having your own wheels will come in very handy. Trains no longer run up to the north coast, while bus schedules are sparse and fares are expensive. The easy way out is to join a guided bus tour, which run from ¥5000 upwards for a day trip from Kanazawa, but being herded around by megaphone-wielding flag-wavers isn't really the best way to enjoy the peninsula's rural tranquility.

What to See

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Noto Peninsula

Go hot-spring hopping at Wakura Onsen.

Halal Restaurants in Noto Peninsula

Noto is famous for seafood, including oysters (kaki) and a special type of soy-like fish Sauce called ishiri (いしり). Ishiri is made from Squid in Noto and sardines in Wajima.

Stay Safe

News & References Noto Peninsula

Travel Next

Kanazawa — one of Japan's best-preserved Edo-era towns