Visit Noto now Vol.1 —A journey of hope and rebirth to rediscover Noto

Some people may think, "I can't go because of the damage caused by the earthquake," but currently, there are almost no areas in Noto that cannot be visited. Although some accommodation facilities are closed, restaurants, shopping, and experience spots are reopening one after another. People working together in temporary stores, chefs developing new menus, and traditional craft artisans getting back on their feet - why not experience Noto on your trip as a place that is not "returning to the state before the earthquake," but "moving forward into the future"?

This Feature Articles will introduce 14 recommended spots in Noto that you can visit now in two parts.

Part 1 Vol.1 https://matcha-jp.com/jp/26173

Part 2 Vol.2 https://matcha-jp.com/jp/26174

• Table of Contents
• 1. Noto Satoyama Airport [Wajima City] — A journey of hope that begins in the sky
• 2. NOTOMORI [Wajima City] — A new base symbolizing reconstruction
• 3. Mitsukejima Island [Suzu City] — A beloved tourist spot that continues to be loved
• 4. Suzunari Shokudo [Suzu City] — "Fukukodon" (Lucky Bowl) Made with Heart and Strength
• 5. Suzunari Roadside Station [Suzu City] — A base for the reconstruction and tourism of Suzu City
• 6. Ika no Eki Tsuku Mall [Noto Town] — The bounty of the sea revived in Tsukumo Bay
• 7. Noto Wine [Anamizu Town] — A story of a glass nurtured by the earth
• Visit Noto now - Continued in Part 2

1. Noto Satoyama Airport [Wajima City] — A journey of hope that begins in the sky

The Noto trip we'll be introducing today starts at Noto Satoyama Airport, the gateway to Noto's skies. If you fly, it takes about an hour to get to Noto Satoyama Airport from Tokyo (Haneda). If you take the Shinkansen, it takes two and a half hours to get to the airport from Kanazawa Station in Kanazawa City , Ishikawa Prefecture , by rental car or bus.

The Noto Peninsula is a peninsula in northern Ishikawa Prefecture that juts out into the Sea of ​​Nihon Sea. It suffered major damage in the earthquake that occurred on New Year's Day 2024, but major roads have now been restored and it is now possible to access various areas from the airport. Noto Satoyama Airport's runway was damaged in the earthquake and it was temporarily closed, but it was quickly restored and immediately after the disaster it served as a transport hub for the Self-Defense Forces, supporting the transport of evacuees and supplies. Currently, ANA operates two round trips per day between Noto and Haneda, carrying reconstruction supporters and tourists.

Noto Satoyama Airport operates two round trips per day between Tokyo and Haneda, with ANA flights operating between Haneda and Noto . It is also a hub for Noto , connecting Kanazawa and other major areas of Noto .

The arrival lobby on the first floor houses tourist information, a rental car counter, a souvenir shop, and more, and outside you'll find the Furusato Taxi, bus stops, and a parking lot.

The departure lobby and souvenir shop are located on the second floor, which has a high atrium.

The third floor is home to a visitor's deck overlooking the runway and the cafe and restaurant "Annon."

Noto Satoyama Airport

[Address] 10-11-1 Suei , Wajima City, Ishikawa Ishikawa Prefecture

TEL 0768-26-2000

[Business hours] 7:45-17:30

Restaurant Annon 9:00-17:00 (last orders 16:30)

Shop Serendipity 9:00-17:00

Tsukushi Shop 9:00-17:00

[Closed] Open all year round

https://www.noto-airport.jp

2. NOTOMORI [Wajima City] — A new base symbolizing reconstruction

"NOTOMORI" is a complex symbolizing the reconstruction of Noto, opening in November 2024 within the parking lot of Noto Satoyama Airport. The facility brings together six restaurants whose stores were damaged in the earthquake disaster, offering their signature dishes in a food court-style setting: "SMOCO," "Koukaen," "Madarakan Restaurant," "Noto Satoyama Shokudo Zen," "Mebuki Shokudo," and "Teraokado." Enjoy lunch and drinks during the day, and izakaya-style meals and izakaya menu items at night. There's also a coworking space equipped with Wi-Fi and printers, as well as open-plan tables, partitioned desks, and conference rooms, all available for free use. The entire facility, or parts of it, can be rented out for events and seminars, and it also functions as a hub for interaction between volunteers, reconstruction supporters, and local residents.

"NOTOMORI" is a temporary shopping mall set up in the parking lot of Noto Satoyama Airport. The spacious and stylish interior is hard to believe is a temporary space, with six restaurants and a drink booth run by NOTOMORI offering food and drinks.

Dishes from Kohkaen (top left), Noto Satoyama Shokudo Zen (bottom left), and Madarakan Restaurant (top right).

Free coworking space.

NOTOMORI

[Location] 10-11-1 Suei, Mitsui- Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture , Noto Satoyama Airport First Parking Lot

[Business hours] Cafe 10:00-16:00, Lunch 11:30-13:30, Dinner 17:00-21:00

*Opening days and times vary by store. Check the official Instagram for details.

[Closed] Varies by store (check official SNS)

3. Mitsukejima Island [Suzu City] — A beloved tourist spot that continues to be loved

Mitsuke is one of the most iconic sights in Noto. Legend has it that it was discovered by Kobo Daishi (Kukai), and the island's name is said to have originated from the Japanese phrase "I found it!" Due to its protruding tip, it has also been nicknamed "Battleship Island," but in recent years, parts of it have collapsed due to repeated earthquakes, and a large part of it collapsed in the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day 2024. While the transformation of Mitsuke , a beloved tourist spot in Noto , was shocking, it remains a beloved Noto destination. The coast where Mitsuke is located is also known as "Enmusu Beach," a lovers' sanctuary. A matchmaking bell had been installed there before the earthquake, and in the summer of 2025, a "Sylveon with LOVE" monument featuring the bond-loving Pokémon, Sylveon, was added.

©2025 Pokémon. ©1995-2025 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.

Pocket Monsters, Pokémon, and Pokémon are registered trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak.

The area around Mitsuke still bears the scars of the earthquake, but many people still visit. On the left is the "Nymphia with LOVE" monument, and on the right is the Matchmaking Bell.

Mitsuke

Cormorant fishing, Suzu City , Ishikawa Prefecture

TEL: 0768-82-7776 (Suzu City Tourism and Exchange Division)

4. Suzunari Shokudo [Suzu City] — "Fukukodon" (Lucky Bowl) Made with Heart and Strength

Suzu City's Suzunari Shokudo is a reconstruction restaurant jointly run by local restaurants that were forced to close due to earthquake damage. It opened in September 2024 on the grounds of the Suzunari Roadside Station, alongside the bento specialty restaurant Suzu Kitchen. Suzunari Shokudo's specialty is the seafood bowl "Fukkodon," named after the words "fukkou" (reconstruction) and "happiness." The seafood used in the "Fukkodon" changes daily, and it's generously topped with fresh, locally caught fish. The winter-only "Fukkodon," made with a whole hairy box crab (female snow crab), a luxury ingredient, is a must-try. Along with the adjacent Suzu Kitchen, which serves freshly prepared bento boxes from early in the morning, it's a welcome addition to any traveler's breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu.

Suzu Kitchen on the left is a takeaway bento shop, and Suzunari Shokudo on the right is a restaurant with an open kitchen that can accommodate large groups.

In addition to set meals, there is a Toyotomi of menu items such as rice bowls and curry. In the evening, you can also enjoy izakaya-style a la carte dishes.

Suzunari Restaurant and Suzu Kitchen

[Location] Ishikawa Prefecture, Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture

TEL 0768-84-5100

[Business hours] Suzunari Shokudo Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11:00-14:00, 17:30-21:00 / Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 11:00-14:00

Suzu Kitchen 5:00-15:00

[Closed] Irregular holidays (check official SNS)

https://www.instagram.com/suzu.kitchen_suzunari.shokudo

5. Suzunari Roadside Station [Suzu City] — A base for the reconstruction and tourism of Suzu City

This roadside station was built on the site of the former Suzu Station on the Noto Railway's Noto , and is home to Suzunarikan, a shop selling Suzu specialty products and a tourist information center, while the platform and tracks of the old Suzu Station have also been preserved. There are three roadside stations in Suzu City, and all have now reopened, but Roadside Station Suzunari, located in the center of town, was the first to reopen, and is used by many people as a base for reconstruction and tourism. In addition to food products such as Suzu specialty salt, natural rock seaweed, wakame seaweed, Japanese and Western sweets, sake, and shochu, there is also a wide selection of goods such as crafts, T-shirts, and bags.

There is a wide selection of souvenirs available, including sweets, sake, salt, ishiri (fish sauce), seaweed, and more.

Roadside Station Suzunari is famous for its soft serve ice cream made with local salt. The slight saltiness enhances the sweetness, and we also recommend topping it with salted vanilla caramel sauce.

Roadside Station Suzunari

15, Suzu , Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture

TEL 0768-82-4688

[Business hours] 10:00-16:00

[Closed] Wednesdays

https://notohantou.jp

6. Ika no Eki Tsuku Mall [Noto Town] — The bounty of the sea revived in Tsukumo Bay

Squid Station Mall, which has attracted worldwide attention thanks to its giant "Squid King" monument, is a tourist hub located on the coast of Noto Town in Noto Noto Town's famous "frozen Ogi" from Ogi, as well as processed squid products, blueberries, sake, seasonings, and more.

The Squid King is a 13-meter-long giant squid monument that makes for great photos to post on social media. You can even get inside its mouth and get wrapped around its tentacles.

Ogi is one of Japan's three largest squid fishing ports, and is known for its "funa-frozen squid," which is made by freezing freshly caught squid on board the boat for exceptional freshness. The museum also has an exhibition corner on squid fishing, introducing the history of squid fishing and the wisdom of fishermen. At the restaurant, you can enjoy a variety of dishes for lunch, including tempura bowls and curry made with "funa-frozen squid." We also recommend eating squid ink soft serve ice cream in the cafe space while looking out over Tsukumo Bay.

Ogi's frozen squid, made from freshly caught squid frozen on board the ship, is a speciality that they are proud of. The store is lined with a wide variety of products, with a focus on local specialties.

The restaurant is popular for its dishes made with the local specialty, frozen squid, and serves squid sashimi and squid rice bowls.

Another experience you should definitely try is the sightseeing boat "Ikasumaru." It takes about 40 minutes to cruise around Tsukumo Bay, and the boat is designed so that you can view the underwater world from a cabin below deck, allowing you to enjoy spectacular views from both above and below the sea. Although the scars of the earthquake still remain on the seawalls and other areas, this cruise allows you to experience the beautiful natural scenery of Tsukumo Bay.

The sightseeing boat operates six times a day.

Ika Station Mall

[Address] 18-18-1 Saka , Noto Town, Houshu-gun, Ishikawa Prefecture

TEL 0768-74-1399

[Business hours] 9:30-17:00 (sales, cafe, exhibition)

Restaurant 11:00-15:00 (last order 14:30)

[Closed] Wednesdays

[Fee] Free admission

Sightseeing boat: Adults 1,500 yen, elementary school students 800 yen, infants 400 yen

1st flight 10:00, 2nd flight 11:00, 3rd flight 12:00, 4th flight 13:00, 5th flight 14:00, 6th flight 15:00

https://ikanoeki.com

7. Noto Wine [Anamizu Town] — A story of a glass nurtured by the earth

This winery cultivates wine grapes in soil made from oyster shells, a specialty of Anamizu Town, and makes wine that takes advantage of the natural environment and climate of the Noto Peninsula. The brewery, shop, and restaurant are located on a small hill overlooking the expansive vineyards. In fact, the visible vineyards are only a small part of the land, with wine grapes produced by contract farmers on an area roughly eight times larger. In addition to European varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay, they also cultivate Yama Sauvignon, a variety that originated in Japan.

Grapes are grown in soil made from oyster shells.

Stepping inside the building on the hill, you are enveloped in the gorgeous aroma of wine. In the earthquake on New Year's Day 2024, some of the bottled wine and aging barrels fell and broke, spilling 10,000 liters of wine from the stainless steel tanks, but the winery resumed sales, production, and shipping that same year, and tours and wine tastings are available. The wine made from grapes grown in the unique soil is truly the "taste of the Noto earth." The mellow aroma once again welcomes visitors.

You can take a tour of the vineyards and winery with the staff's guidance.

On this day, we sampled five types of wine, including Yama Sauvignon from Noto , which is representative of Noto wine, and an easy-to-drink rosé-type sparkling wine.

At the shop, you can taste and purchase the wines you like. They also sell snacks and sweets.

Noto Wine

[Address] 5-1 Asahigaoka, Anamizu Town Ishikawa Prefecture

TEL 0768-58-1577

[Business hours] 9:00-17:00, Winter 9:00-16:30 (12/1-2/28)

[Closed] 12/31-1/2

https://notowine.com

Visit Noto now - Continued in Part 2

There are still many more spots and areas in Noto that you can visit right now! Be sure to check out the second part, and then go and experience "Noto today" with your own eyes.

For the second part, please click here: https://matcha-jp.com/jp/26174

8. Wakura Festival Hall [Nanao City]

9. Notoraku Japanese Inn [Nanao City]

10. Wajima Morning Market [Wajima City]

11. Wajima Workshop Row House [Wajima City]

12. Mebuki (Wajima City)

13. Zen no Sato Community Center and Monzen-dori Street [Wajima City]

14. Sojiji Motoyama Sect [Wajima City]