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sanji
Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:57 am

Noto Hanto (Ishikawa-ken) [E]
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Noto Hanto (Noto Peninsula, 能登半島)

Located at the north end of Ishikawa-ken, the Noto peninsula forms a thumb entering into the Japan sea. Rather large, with a length of about 100 km, it offers a very attractive destination for people who are interested to go a little off the beaten tracks.

At the same time, Noto-Hanto is more populated that most of the desolate peninsulas found on this coast of Japan. The scenery varies from rough sea coasts to calm and beautiful beaches, large mountainous areas with attractive valleys to farmlands and rice fields. There are also some interesting cultural spots (shrines and lacquerware museums), although obviously it can not compare to nearby Kanazawa.


Orientation

The peninsula is linked to the main island of Japan along a virtual line passing through Kanazawa and Takaoka. A famous onsen town, Wakura Onsen, is located on the east shore, on a bay where the Noto-jima island is located. On the north coast are the towns of Wajima and Sosogi. The only airport of the peninsula is located south of Wajima.



  
  plane
  
  Noto Airport

  
  rail
  
  Nanao station

  
  W GREEN
  
  Wakura Onsen station

  
  rail
  
  Anamizu station

  
  K RED
  
  Kita-Ke

  
  C RED
  
  Chirihama Driveway

  
  K RED
  
  Keta-taisha

  
  M RED
  
  Myojo-ji

  
  S RED
  
  Soji-ji

  
  W GREEN
  
  Wajima

  
  T RED
  
  Tokikuni-ke & Kami-Tokikuni-ke

  
  C RED
  
  Cap Rokko

  
  lodging
  
  Lamp no Yado (ryokan)

 




Access 

The two main entrance points to Noto Peninsula are the cities of Kanazawa (金沢, Ishikawa-ken) and Takaoka (高岡, Toyama-ken), both being accessible from Tokyo and Kyoto.

By train :
From Tokyo, take the shinkansen to Echigo Yuzawa, and change for the Limited Express Hakutaka for Takaoka (total time 3h40, 11770 yen) and Kanazawa (4h00, 12410 yen). There are also night trains connecting Ueno and Kanazawa, the Limited Express Hokuriku (7h20, 18770 yen, sleepers and private rooms) and the Express Noto (7h05, 9750 yen, seats only);
From Kyoto, The Limited Express Raicho and Thunderbird reach Kanazawa in 2h05-2h22 (6510 yen).
The only railroad entering Noto Peninsula leaves from Kanazawa

By plane :
The is an airport in the heart of the peninsula, close to Anamizu : Noto Airport (能登空港) with two daily flights from and to Tokyo.

By bus :
From Tokyo, a good and cheap option is to take a highway bus to Kanazawa (about 8000 yen, oparated by Seibu, Hokuriku Tetsudo, JR Kanto Bus and Nishinihon JR Bus).


Travel around

833Traveling around the peninsula is not easy iｆ you have to rely on public transportations. If you can, rent a car, either from Kanazawa or Takaoka. This is really the best way to enjoy visiting the peninsula...

There is one train line linking Kanazawa to Nanao (七尾) (98 minutes, 1280 yen) and Wakura Onsen (和倉温泉) (55 minutes by Limited Express, 2530 yen - more expensive because of the Limited Express surcharge); from there, the NotoRailroad Nanao Line continues up to Anamizu (穴水), the terminus (from there, a bus goes to the airport). Information you might find on several web sites could be outdated: the line to Takojima closed in 2005, and the connection further to Wajima closed even earlier, in 2001 (see picture on the right...). This leaves very limited train opportunities on the peninsula...

The only alternative way to travel around is the bus. Hokutetsu Kanko bus has connections between Kanazawa and Wajima (2200 yen, 2h, 11 per day, [url=http://www.hokutetsu.co.jp/unko/noto/180429/wajima-n.htm]timetable here); there is also a Wakura Onsen - Wajima line (1200 yen, 1 h); contact : 076-237-5115.