Noto Peninsula
Much of the coastline of the Noto Peninsula has been given Quasi-National Park status. The peninsula’s two main centers for tourists, Wajima City and Wakura Onsen, provide a relaxed atmosphere different from other major cities in Japan. Chirihama Nagisa Driveway is the only beach in Japan where you are allowed to drive a car, so it is great for cruising and making a stop at one of the shops selling grilled seafood, a specialty of the area.
In Wajima you should include a stop at Sojiji temple, where some of the buildings are over 100 years old and the atmosphere is quiet and peaceful. The Wajima morning market is also worth a visit, held from 8 am until noon. If you want to learn more about the region’s artisanal crafts, you can go to the Museum of Lacquerware and Kiriko Hall for giant lanterns.
The Senmaida ricefields should definitely be on your list as it is one of the most photogenic areas in Japan. Many people who overnight in Noto Peninsula will find a ryokan with an onsen in Wakura Onsen.
