An expert guide to Ishikawa: best sights & travel tips
21.07.2023 - 07:56
/ roughguides.com
/ Sean Pavone
/ Art
Ishikawa is one of the country’s most enchanting prefectures. Its scenic location – fringing the Sea of Japan on Honshu’s northern coast – is matched by a long history, stretching back to days ruled by the Kaga clan. Over the centuries, Ishikawa has developed into an important centre for a range of creative arts, and you’re just as likely to find yourself marvelling at fine ceramics and lacquerware as sparkling ocean views. Here, Rough Guides brings you the definitive Ishikawa travel guide.
Ishikawa’s got it all, from a strong sense of living history and an array of must-see cultural sights to a captivating fine-arts scene, bubbling hot springs and peaceful gardens. Walk around the streets of the capital, Kanazawa, and you’ll be rewarded with historic streets lined with low-strung wooden buildings. Wander through sculpted Kenrokuen Garden, or relax inKaga Onsen, and you’ll feel your troubles float away. And that’s before we come to the great outdoors – active travellers can make the most of Ishikawa’s rugged seascapes and the craggy coastlines offered by the Noto Peninsula. Art lovers, meanwhile, will want to spend time ogling exquisite 17th-century ceramics and lacquerware – or more modern treasures at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Ishikawa is a bountiful and varied prefecture, where visitors of all persuasions will find plenty to entertain them. Get stuck in.
Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa © cowardlion/Shutterstock
Ishikawa is located in the central belt of the country, on the island of Honshu. The prefecture capital, Kanazawa, is easily reached from Tokyo by bullet train – a quintessential Japanese experience in itself. JR trains also reach Kanazawa from Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya. Flights from Tokyo arrive into Noto Satoyama Airport in Wajima, while Komatsu Airport is served by a good range of domestic flights, as well as a few Asian international routes. There’s also a bus service from Tokyo, though this takes around eight hours.
Ishikawa is served by an excellent public-transport network, so getting around once you’re here is easy and hassle free. Local trains and especially buses will generally get you everywhere you need to go, though hiring a car will give you that bit of additional freedom. There’s an extensive bus network in Kanazawa city, including two tourist routes that take in the major sights. Hiring a bicycle, meanwhile, is an atmospheric way to go.
Shiroyone Senmaida rice terraces, Noto Peninsula © Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
There are some great options for places to stay in Ishikawa, from luxury hotels to authentic ryokan and even local farmstays. The prefecture capital, Kanazawa, naturally has the most choice, though there’s a good selection of accommodation in the