Noto Peninsula Guide: What's Open Now and How to Visit

The Noto Peninsula (能登半島) is the long arm of Ishikawa Prefecture north of Kanazawa: coast roads, rice terraces, crafts and the onsen town of Wakura. It was hit by the earthquake of January 1, 2024 and by heavy rain from September 21, 2024.^[1] You can visit now. The south and middle of the peninsula are the easy part, and the far north (Oku-Noto) is reachable with more planning. It suits repeat visitors with a car, or a full day for trains and buses. If this is your first trip and you have only two days in Kanazawa, you can skip it.

Key facts

• Worth it for: coast drives, Notojima Aquarium, an onsen night at Wakura, and the Senmaida rice terraces; repeat visitors with a car or a spare day.
• Time needed: one day for the south and middle; two or more with Oku-Noto (our planning suggestion).
• Status dates: each status below carries its own source date; many come from Visit Kanazawa’s feature, as of August 2026,^[1] and the heavy rain from August 27, 2026 may have changed some.^[2]
• By train: as of August 2026, JR Nanao Line to Nanao, then Noto Railway to Anamizu, just under 3 hours from Kanazawa.^[1]
• By car: as of August 2026, about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Kanazawa Station to Notojima.^[1]

What is open now?

The table lists only places for which an operator or a public body gives a dated status. Each row names the date of that information. Conditions change, so check the links in the last section on the day you travel.

Place	Status	Source and date
Chirihama Nagisa Driveway	Unaffected by the earthquake; may close in bad weather	Visit Kanazawa, as of August 2026
Noto Kongo sightseeing boat (Ganmon)	Regular service since July 2024; winter break December to mid-March	Service: Visit Kanazawa, as of August 2026; winter break: operator site, news dated July 22, 2026
Notojima Aquarium	Fully reopened (as of August 2026); 9:00–17:00 until November 30	Reopening: Visit Kanazawa, as of August 2026; hours: aquarium site, news dated October 1, 2026
Wakura Onsen ryokan	11 of 19 cooperative ryokan taking guests	News release dated September 16, 2026
Wakura Onsen Soyu public bath	Operating as usual	Visit Kanazawa, as of August 2026
Wajima Urushi Art Museum	Open until November 30; closed October 20 to 23	Museum notice dated August 7, 2026
Wajima Morning Market	Held at Power City Wajima Y-Plaza, 9:00–13:00, closed Wednesdays	Market association site
Shiroyone Senmaida	Rice growing resumed; shops open Friday to Sunday and holidays	Visit Kanazawa, as of August 2026
National Route 249, Sozogi to Suzu	Open to general traffic	Visit Kanazawa, as of August 2026

Sources for the table: Chirihama,^[1] the boat,^[1] its winter break,^[12] the aquarium,^[1] its hours,^[4] Wakura’s ryokan^[3] and bath,^[1] the museum,^[9],[10] the market,^[11] Senmaida^[1] and Route 249.^[1]

Heavy rain hit Hokuriku again from August 27, 2026. The Japan Tourism Agency, in a page last updated September 10, 2026, says roads may be closed and transport disrupted in affected parts of Ishikawa, and asks visitors to check the latest information from each facility and operator.^[2] The statuses dated August 2026 may not reflect that rain, so treat them as a starting point. For Noto Railway, check the running status on the operator’s home page (link in the last section) on the day.

Chirihama and the west coast: what can I see in half a day?

The west coast is the closest part of Noto to Kanazawa. Visit Kanazawa says the central area around Hakui, Hodatsushimizu and Nakanoto had minimal earthquake damage and was spared from the heavy rain.^[1] A half day covers the Chirihama Nagisa Driveway (千里浜なぎさドライブウェイ), a beach you can drive on, and Keta Taisha (氣多大社), the old principal shrine of Noto Province. As of August 2026, Visit Kanazawa gives about one hour by car from Kanazawa Station to Keta Taisha via Chirihama.^[1]

As of August 2026, Visit Kanazawa says the beach road was not damaged by the earthquake, but it closes in bad weather, so check the Ishikawa Road Information Network before you drive onto the sand.^[1]

With a full day, go on north to Ganmon (巌門), a sea cave on the Noto Kongo coast. As of August 2026, Visit Kanazawa says the sightseeing boat that tours it went back to regular service in July 2024. It does not sail on days with rough seas,^[1] and it takes a winter break from December to mid-March.^[12]

Nanao, Wakura Onsen and Notojima: is the middle worth a night?

Yes, if you want an onsen night and a slower day. Wakura Onsen (和倉温泉) is in Nanao City. In a news release dated September 16, 2026, the town’s tourism association and ryokan cooperative say that 11 of the cooperative’s 19 ryokan have resumed taking overnight guests.^[3] Book a ryokan that confirms it is open for your dates. Do not assume a well-known name has reopened. If you have never stayed in one, the ryokan guide explains what is included.

You can still bathe at Wakura without staying overnight. Visit Kanazawa says the Soyu (総湯) public bathhouse is operating as usual, although some inns remain closed.^[1] For a hot-spring day out from Kanazawa instead, the Kaga Onsen guide compares the Kaga towns.

Notojima Aquarium (のとじま水族館) is on Notojima island, across the bay from Wakura. As of August 2026, Visit Kanazawa says it has fully resumed operations: the dolphin show came back in March 2025 and the sea lion show in July.^[1]

Wajima and Senmaida: what is open in Oku-Noto?

Oku-Noto is the northern part of the peninsula: Wajima, Suzu, Anamizu and Noto Town. You can visit, but some places now run from temporary sites or open only in set periods.

The Wajima Morning Market (輪島朝市) association says the permanent market is held at Power City Wajima Y-Plaza (パワーシティ 輪島ワイプラザ) from 9:00 to 13:00. Some stalls, such as vegetable sellers, close earlier, and the market’s closing day is Wednesday, with irregular closures.^[11] Check the association’s site before you go.

The Ishikawa Wajima Urushi Art Museum (石川県輪島漆芸美術館), the lacquerware museum, opens in set periods. In a notice dated August 7, 2026, it says it will stay open until November 30, with a closure from October 20 to 23, and it opens 9:00–17:00 on open days.^[9],[10]

Shiroyone Senmaida (白米千枚田) is a slope of 1,004 small rice paddies running down to the sea. Visit Kanazawa says rice growing has resumed there, and the shops and restaurants in the pocket park beside it open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.^[1]

East of Wajima, Visit Kanazawa says National Route 249 from the Sozogi Coast to Suzu City is open to general traffic again. In Suzu, the Suzu Theater Museum reopened in July 2026.^[1]

How much does it cost and when is it open?

Most of the coast, the shrine grounds and the rice terraces are free to look at. The main ticketed sight is Notojima Aquarium. Adults pay 1,890 yen, and elementary and junior high school students pay 510 yen.^[5] The aquarium opens 9:00–17:00 from March 20 to November 30, with last entry at 16:30. From December 1 to March 19 it opens 9:00–16:30, with last entry at 16:00.^[4] It is closed from December 29 to 31.^[4]

How do I get there from Kanazawa?

You have four ways in. Without a car, the train is the simplest choice for the middle of the peninsula, and the bus for Wajima.

• Train: as of August 2026, Visit Kanazawa routes you on the JR Nanao Line from Kanazawa to Nanao and on Noto Railway (のと鉄道) from Nanao to Anamizu, just under 3 hours in all.^[1] Check Noto Railway’s live running status on its home page before you set out.
• Express bus: Hokuriku Railway (Hokutetsu) runs a Noto limited express bus between Kanazawa and Wajima, listed on its Noto express bus page.^[7] As of August 2026, Visit Kanazawa says that for Suzu you change buses at Noto Airport, and some local bus sections may be suspended or rerouted.^[1]
• Plane: from Tokyo, the Noto Airport timetable lists two flights from Haneda, NH747 at 8:55 and NH749 at 15:30, up to October 24, 2026, and NH747 at 9:00 and NH749 at 15:05 from October 25, 2026 to January 31, 2027.^[8]
• Car: as of August 2026, Visit Kanazawa says the Noto Satoyama Kaido highway reaches Notojima from Kanazawa Station in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.^[1] The guide to driving in Japan covers the licence translation, rental and tolls.

If you would rather not drive or plan connections, a guided day trip from Kanazawa covers the west coast or the middle of the peninsula in one go. To weigh that against the train, the bus or a rental car, the Noto car, bus or tour comparison shows which parts of the peninsula each one reaches.

How do I check conditions on the day?

• Roads: Ishikawa Road Information Network (Ishikawa Prefecture, Japanese map).
• Buses: Hokuriku Railway’s Noto express bus page for notices on the Noto express buses.
• Trains: Noto Railway home page, with its live running status.
• What has reopened: Travel and Support Noto (Ishikawa Prefecture’s tourism site, Japanese).
• In person: as of August 2026, Visit Kanazawa says the Noto Desk in the Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center gives Noto advice, with English-speaking staff from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.^[1]

The Kanazawa guide covers the city you will start from, including luggage storage at the station.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to visit Noto now?

We do not give safety advice for your trip. The Japan Tourism Agency asks visitors to check the latest road, transport and facility information before setting out.^[2] For alerts, use the Japan Meteorological Agency and JNTO’s Safe Travel Information.

Can I see Noto in a day trip from Kanazawa?

Yes, for the west coast or the middle. As of August 2026, Visit Kanazawa gives about one hour by car to Keta Taisha via Chirihama,^[1] and Notojima about 1 hour and 30 minutes.^[1] Wajima and Suzu are better with a night on the way.

Where do I get help in English?

At the Noto Desk in the Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center, which, as of August 2026, has English-speaking staff from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.^[1]

Can I visit Noto in winter?

Yes, but the Noto Kongo boat does not sail from December to mid-March,^[12] and the aquarium closes earlier, at 16:30.^[4]