Noto-Hantō Peninsula (能登半島)

The Noto-Hantō Peninsula is a good place to go if you want to experience rugged seascapes, traditional rural life and some cultural sights. The wild, unsheltered western side of the peninsula is less developed and more rugged than the eastern coastline and more interesting for travelers.

There are numerous towns and small cities in the region, where interesting festivals are held during the summer. At Wajima, you can see demon-masked drummers with seaweed headgear perform wild drumming during the Gojinjo Daiko Nabune Festival, which is held on 31 July and 1 August. In early August, the Ishizaki Hoto Festival is held. It features a parade of tall lantern poles.

Accommodation is available in most of the towns on the peninsula. Noto-Hantō can easily be reached by train from Kanazawa, Takaoka or Toyama. The peninsula projects north into the Sea of Japan and is some 300 km northwest of Tokyo.