Travel in prefecture Ishikawa

Kanazawa City, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan, is an attractive centre with a plethora of fantastic cultural attractions. Travellers will be treated to everything from well-preserved historic districts to modern museums and the natural charms of Kenrokuen Garden, among Japan’s most beloved landscaped gardens.

I pulled into the tiny hamlet of Hirase, in Japan’s Gifu prefecture, at the peak of the day’s heat. I’d just climbed several thousand feet through Hakusan National Park, on a twisting, waterfall-lined road, before eventually descending into the shimmering fantasy landscape of Shirakawa-go, an almost Tolkien-esque small village—and UNESCO heritage site—comprised of centuries-old thatched, peaked-roof farmhouses in the gassho-zukuri style. Replenishing myself with a black-sesame ice cream cone, I made the last push towards my destination. My cycling computer eventually told me “destination reached,” but all I could see was a succession of closed businesses lining a small street. Seeking shade, I flopped against a security gate.

Japan's had a rough start to the year, with a fiery plane collision at the Tokyo airport on Tuesday and a slew of tsunami-risk earthquakes slamming the archipelago's west the day before.

Japan was struck by a series of powerful earthquakes on Monday that have left at least 48 people dead. Thousands of buildings have been damaged by fires and landslides.

Japan issued a tsunami warning along with urgent evacuation orders after a powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale shook the Ishikawa region on Monday.

Whether you're swerving along the asphalt in the wild and expansive north, skirting the towering bluffs and wave-battered coasts of western Honshu, or winding through the archipelago of the Inland Sea, you can’t beat the freedom of being behind the wheel. And as an island nation with nearly three-quarters of its terrain covered by mountains, Japan seems custom-built for scenic road trips.

For ultra-wealthy travel lovers, six-figure getaways continue to trend ever upward. Encouraged by the pandemic’s wake-up call to maximize life’s positive experiences, these vacationers are engaging luxury outfitters to brainstorm off-the-beaten-path itineraries that illuminate exclusive, eye-opening, one-of-a-kind adventures. Among the best of the best tour-planning companies, Abercrombie & Kent — founded in the 1960s by visionary safari pioneer Geoffrey Kent — just announced its latest pinnacle, Around the World With Geoffrey Kent: An Inspiring Expedition by Private Jet. Limited to 46 participants, this epic 26-day transit (October 13 to November 7, 2024) will touch down in Japan, India, Malta, Senegal, Saint Helena, Uruguay, Easter Island and French Polynesia. Kent, who will accompany the group from start to finish, explains to Forbes: “It’s true that the world is well-traveled, but there are still unexplored spots. My goal is to take A&K guests to places of immense beauty and rich culture, but where others rarely venture.” Indeed, many of the destinations are dazzlingly remote with unique behind-the-scenes encounters. To smooth this far-flung journey en route: a chartered Boeing 757, featuring all lie-flat, first-class seats, with a dedicated crew and executive chef. Price: $184,950 per person; see below for further details. (Perhaps you may be inspired by these highlights to tuck one or two intriguing ideas onto your DIY wish list.)

Located on the west coast of Japan’s main Honshu island, Ishikawa juts out into the Sea of Japan and is bordered by Toyama, Gifu and Fukui prefectures. Continue reading for ultimate Ishikawa prefecture travel inspiration and find out more:

As the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa is one of the most important urban centres in the region. Its long, successful and stable history has endowed the city with a stellar collection of cultural sights. Come to Kanazawa City and you’ll find a bastion of culture and heritage, with Edo Era districts to explore, fresh seafood to sample and the flower-strewn garden of Kenrokuen to amble.

Ishikawa Prefecture is situated on the Sea of Japan on the main island on Honshu. It’s an area of staggering scenic beauty, making this the perfect destination for an action-packed outdoor holiday. Ishikawa nature highlights range from remote wilderness areas on the Noto Peninsula to manicured Kenrokuen Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. What follows is the definitive outdoor adventure guide for Ishikawa.

Japan’s Ishikawa and Gifu prefectures may share Central Honshu with the country’s neon-lit capital, but these largely undeveloped, quieter areas occupying the Chubu region couldn’t be more different. Spanning vast wetland, the North Japan Alps and rugged coastline punctuated by curious fishing villages and sharply-terraced rice paddies, they offer a diverse landscape far removed from Japan’s densely-populated, mercantile cities. Both invite adventure, too. In Ishikawa you can hike to a shrine at the foot of Mt Hakusan and visit the waterfalls of Hakusan National Park, explore the island of Notojima by bike and relax in hot springs at Wakura Onsen. In Gifu wander the the ruins of Naegi castle, go rafting down the Nagara river (or cycle along its riverbank), clamber up a stream and plunge into a deep lava rock pool around Hida Osaka Falls.

Rough Guides editor Amy Hopkins shares her tips for what not to miss when travelling along the historic Three Star Road in central Japan

Rough Guides Editor Amy Hopkins visits Ainokura, a historic village in Japan’s remote Gokayama region, and stays with a resident in his mountain home