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Noto Peninsula’s woodlands and seas are designated as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems! View it all from the window of a cozy inn.

Onomi Village, Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture

Local stories

“Noto’s Satoyama and Satoumi,” which encompass the town’s agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, are a certified Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). In the Uchiura waters surrounding the Noto Peninsula, an ecosystem has developed that enables people to enjoy the gifts of the sea without disturbing the natural equilibrium. One aspect of this ecosystem is the area’s widespread use of stationary “set-nets” for fishing. Instead of actively catching fish, fishermen set nets in place and wait for fish to enter before pulling them in. This passive fishing method is environmentally friendly too, as it doesn’t promote overfishing, which can harm the ecosystem.

One theory posits that Nanao’s set-nets originated near the end of the Sengoku period (1467–1568), making it a traditional fishing method with a very long history. Records show that the famed warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582) was even presented some yellowtail in 1579, marking Nanao as one of the places where this fishing tradition began. Sazanami Fishing Port in Nanao’s Onomi area lands some of the largest catches in Noto. In winter, the wild yellowtail landed here are salted, wrapped in straw, and then hung from rooftops for half the year to make makiburi, a traditional preserved food and local delicacy enjoyed in summer. Some sources suggest that the Maeda family—the lords of Kaga, the largest domain during the Edo period (1603–1867)—came up with this dish for the express purpose of presenting the finest yellowtail to the Tokugawa family, who governed feudal Japan. Onomi is the only place where you can taste this piece of history for yourself. All year round, you can enjoy a wealth of other seasonal bounties through activities like planting rice in spring, catching ayu sweetfish in summer, and then harvesting rice and foraging for wild plants and shiitake mushrooms in the fall.

Local culinary delights

This Onomi adventure allows you to enjoy the gifts of the sea and mountains in and around the Noto Peninsula. Cook up vegetables harvested from fields belonging to local farmers with ladies in the community, try some freshly grilled hamayaki seafood at a roadside station, enjoy a BBQ featuring Noto beef, and explore other unique aspects of the local food scene. Seasonal food-based activities are also available. For example, you can plant rice and forage for wild plants in spring, catch ayu in summer, harvest rice and scavenge for shiitake mushrooms in the fall, and make makiburi and grill thin slices of mochi in winter.

Recommended model course

Savor the gifts of both the mountains and fertile sea in the unspoiled village of Onomi

Example itinerary

Become a temporary part of the community and savor the gifts of the mountains and sea, which will have you longing to come back from season to season. Enjoy a glimpse of daily life in Onomi by touring Shinto shrines and the port on an electric mountain bike, trying wood carving at an atelier, joining women in the community for some home cooking featuring local vegetables, and visiting places like a market and a hot spring facility.

Schedule

Day One

Arrive at Noto Satoyama Airport, Kanazawa Station, or Wakuraonsen StationRent a car nearby and go to Onomi Village’s Yushin AnAlong the way, purchase ingredients like locally sourced fish and vegetables from Noto and Nanao as well as Noto beef from nearby shops for a BBQ and breakfast at your accommodations3:00 p.m. | Arrive at Onomi Village’s Yushin An

Yushin An is a lodging facility renovated with the design expertise of a local architect from Nanao. Its new design retains the beams and traditional structure of the atelier that preceded it, while the large windows and unfinished Noto cypress and cedar wood give the space a fresh, modern look. The living room, sitting area, and bedroom are all raised to slightly different heights, separating them for a single-floor layout that feels spacious and comfortable. Feel free to rent an electric mountain bike and tour sights in the neighborhood, such as local shrines and the fishing port.

Tour Arakashihiko Jinja

This Shinto shrine is located in the Minami-Onomi area of the city of Nanao. It’s famous for the Arakashihiko Jinja Cedar, one of Nanao’s natural monuments, located near the shrine building. The tree is said to be roughly 300 years old and 35 meters tall. The tree’s enormous trunk is so wide that five adults would have trouble wrapping their arms around it, and its majestic, sacred atmosphere has earned it a reputation as a spiritual hot spot.

Arrive at your accommodations

Day Two

Eat breakfast and drink some morning coffee on the wooden deck while gazing at the morning glowExperience the seasonality of the area’s satoyama and satoumi in the fields and sea near Onomi Village’s Yushin AnEat lunch at the Onominna dining hall

The Onominna dining hall serves daily-special set meals made by women in the community that are packed with vegetables and fish from Onomi.

Experience wood carving at the Takikawa Mokucho workshop

The local Takikawa Mokucho workshop is run by a married couple specializing in wood carving and woodworking. You can look at works including traditional sculptures for shrines and temples as well as a wooden carving of Fudo Myo-o, the Immovable Wisdom King in Buddhist lore. Chiharu Takikawa, one of the two wood-carvers, also introduces whimsical, contemporary pieces, such as a small necklace that holds a drop of aromatic oil sealed within the wood.

Day Three

Depart from your accommodationsWalk around the city of Nanao

In Nanao, you can shop for souvenirs and gifts, enjoy a hamayaki meal, and more at the Nanao Fisherman’s Wharf, a Minato Oasis roadside station by the coast. The Wakura Onsen hot spring resort is also roughly 20 minutes away by car and features a variety of tourist spots, such as Wakura Onsen’s Soyu—where you can take a quick dip in a hot spring without spending the night—and Omatsuri Hall, which introduces local festivals, as well as the Buddhist temple Seirinji. Enjoy dolphin and sea lion shows at the Notojima Aquarium and then go for a dip in a mineral-rich island hot spring.

Access

From Kanazawa Station to Nanao Station on the IR Ishikawa Railway Nanao Line (1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes)
From Shin-Takaoka Station to Nanao Station on the Wakura Onsen Express Bus "Waku Liner" Kaetsuno Bus (1 hour and 30 minutes)
From Noto Airport (a.k.a. Noto Satoyama Airport) to Anamizu Station on the Hokutetsu Okunoto Bus Anamizu-Shuzu C Line, then to Nanao Station on the Noto Railway (1 hour)
From Toyama Airport (a.k.a. Toyama Kitokito Airport) to Toyama Station on the Toyama Chiho Railway Bus Toyama Airport Line, then to Takaoka Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway, then to Nanao Station on the Katsuno Bus Wakura Onsen “Waku Liner” Express Bus (3 hours and 30 minutes)
From Komatsu Airport to Kanazawa Station on the Hokuriku Railway Komatsu Airport Limousine Bus, then to Nanao Station on the IR Ishikawa Railway Nanao Line (about 2 hours and 50 minutes)

Contact

Onomi Village

Recommended Accommodation

Onomi Village YUSHINAN

Relax in comfort while taking in the sight of Onomi’s ancient woodlands and beautiful ocean, and at the same time get to know a truly unique regional culture. This rustic inn is an old, renovated house now available as a private vacation rental. There is a wooden deck and a barbecue grill outside, and the availability of high-speed Wi-Fi makes the inn an ideal location for remote work. Breakfast is an additional ¥2,000 per person.

  • Address :

    2-1 Bu, Wa, Hanazono-machi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)50-6861-3620

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese and English (using Pocketalk or other machine translator)

  • Access :

    20-minute drive from JR Nanao Station

  • Check-in :

    3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

  • Check-out :

    10:00 a.m.

  • Rates :

    From ¥40,000 per night with no meals (whole property rental)

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

  • Bedroom :

    Private rooms for up to 6 people (with lock); beds and futons

  • Bathroom :

    Bathroom available (with lock); bathtub available from check-in to checkout

  • Toilet :

    Western style

  • Meals :

    Dinner and breakfast

  • Wi-Fi :

    Available

Recommended Restaurant

Onomi Village Restaurant

This restaurant serves healthy dishes prepared by local people using locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes a ¥1,000 daily set meal, as well as Japanese curry, fried-rice omelet, and other hearty dishes. For dessert, the homemade cheesecake with coffee or tea is particularly recommended.

  • Address :

    1 Bu, Wa, Hanazono-machi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)50-6861-3622

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese and English (using Pocketalk or other machine translator)

  • Access :

    20-minute drive from JR Nanao Station

  • Opening Hours :

    11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

  • Closed :

    Sundays and Wednesdays

  • Cuisine Category :

    Japanese cuisine

  • Foreign Language Menu :

    Not available

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

Recommended Experience

Noto Satoyama Satoumi Cycling

This leisurely guided bicycle tour visits local fishermen and farmers along the way. Enjoy the beautiful woodland and ocean scenery while getting in touch with the local lifestyle. The electric bicycles make the ride accessible to those of all levels of ability.

  • Address :

    1 Bu, Wa, Hanazono-machi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)50-6861-3620 (Onomi Village)

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    20-minute drive from JR Nanao Station

  • Duration :

    2 hours

  • Fee :

    ¥8,000

  • Languages Supported :

    Japanese and English (using Pocketalk or other machine translator)

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

Recommended Experience

Village Fun in Onomi

Have fun in the natural environment of Onomi’s oceans, mountains, and rivers, with the help of a local guide. Try planting rice or making makiburi, a local specialty of preserved winter yellowtail. A variety of seasonal activities are also available, such as fishing for sweetfish, gathering wild vegetables, and picking shiitake mushrooms.

  • Address :

    2-1 Bu, Wa, Hanazono-machi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)50-6861-3620 (Onomi Village)

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    20-minute drive from JR Nanao Station

  • Duration :

    Varies by plan

  • Fee :

    From ¥3,000

  • Languages Supported :

    Japanese and English (using Pocketalk or other machine translator)

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

Recommended Experience

Taste the Best of Onomi with a Luxury Barbecue (exclusively for Onomi Village YUSHINAN guests)

This luxurious barbecue is available only to guests of Onomi Village YUSHINAN. Ingredients include Noto beef and other local meats, Sea of Japan seafood, and fresh seasonal vegetables. The ultimate treat for foodies! Please confirm the available food items when making a reservation.

  • Address :

    2-1 Bu, Wa, Hanazono-machi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)50-6861-3620 (Onomi Village)

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    20-minute drive from JR Nanao Station

  • Fee :

    From ¥10,000

  • Languages Supported :

    Japanese and English (using Pocketalk or other machine translator)

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

  • Reservations :

    Please inquire while making reservation for Onomi Village YUSHINAN.

Recommended Experience

Relax in a Tent Sauna with a Spectacular View (exclusively for Onomi Village YUSHINAN guests)

Guests of Onomi Village YUSHINAN can reserve a tent sauna to be used any time during their stay. The sauna affords a fantastic view of forest and sea and is guaranteed to relax your body and soothe your mind. Plenty of local firewood from Onomi is provided, and extra firewood can be purchased.

  • Address :

    2-1 Bu, Wa, Hanazono-machi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)50-6861-3620 (Onomi Village)

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    20-minute drive from JR Nanao Station

  • Fee :

    ¥10,000 (available for use from check-in to checkout)

  • Languages Supported :

    Japanese and English (using Pocketalk or other machine translator)

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

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