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Noto Penninsula Tour with local guide
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Joined 2025
Discover the natural beauty, rich traditions, and coastal charm of the Noto Peninsula. Visit the vibrant Wajima Morning Market, savour fresh seafood, and take in the breathtaking Shiroyone Senmaida rice terraces. In the afternoon, choose your adventure: explore dramatic sea caves, encounter marine life at Notojima Aquarium, soak in the healing waters of Wakura Onsen, or find tranquillity at the mountain temple of Natadera. A scenic return drive brings the day to a close back in Kanazawa.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel or a location of your choice in central Kanazawa
- I will pick you up from your hotel or anywhere in central Kanazawa.
Wajima Morning Market
Take a leisurely stroll through Wajima’s historic morning market, one of Japan’s oldest open-air markets with over 1,000 years of history. Browse stalls offering local crafts, fresh seafood, and handmade goods. Sample regional delicacies such as freshly grilled dried fish, rich and creamy sea urchin, and tender Noto beef skewers. For those interested, an optional visit to the Wajima Kiriko Art Museum showcases the towering, ornate lanterns used in the area’s vibrant summer festivals.
Lunch at a Local Seafood Restaurant (or a place matched to your preferences)
Enjoy lunch at a local seafood restaurant, or at a spot tailored to your tastes and dietary needs. A popular choice is Noto-don, which is a vibrant rice bowl topped with freshly caught seafood from the nearby coast. You might also try fugu karaage, a delicacy of lightly battered and deep-fried pufferfish. Other options include grilled squid, refreshing cold soba noodles, or a wholesome vegetarian set meal featuring seasonal mountain vegetables.
Shiroyone Senmaida Rice Terraces
Take in the breathtaking view of over 1,000 rice paddies at Shiroyone Senmaida, where neatly layered terraces cascade down the hillside into the Sea of Japan. This is a part of an area designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. The iconic landscape is not only a feast for the eyes, but also a testament to centuries of traditional hand-farming. Learn how local communities maintain and protect these precious fields and honour their cultural and agricultural importance.
OPTION: Choose One
• Ganmon Rock & Rugged Coastline
Visit the dramatic Ganmon sea cave and nearby cliffs. Enjoy a short coastal walk, take photos, and observe seabirds along the shore.
or
• Notojima Aquarium
A popular destination featuring dolphin shows, penguin feedings, and a massive tunnel tank. Ideal for families or travellers interested in marine life native to the Sea of Japan.
Wakura Onsen
Unwind at the historic Wakura Onsen, overlooking Nanao Bay. Choose your experience:
- Public Bath: Soak at Sôyu for a casual local experience
- Luxury Ryokan: Drop-in bath plans available (e.g. Kagaya, Matsunomidori)
- Free Foot Bath: Located near the station—perfect for a short rest
Option to enjoy tea, a snack, or simply relax before heading back.
Ending Point
Your hotel or a location of your choice in central Kanazawa
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee,
- Pickup and drop off at your hotel or a location or your choice within central Kanazawa
- Car fees, including vehicle use, highway tolls, parking fees, fuel and insurance.
- Car type: Honda Stepwagon (MPV)
- Entrance fee for participants
- Lunch for participants
Tour Important Information
This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
* This tour is not recommended for those with severe back/knee problems.
* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
* Please ensure you have cash with you, as some locations will not accept card payments.
* If you would like to customise the itinerary, I would be happy to do so. Please message me regarding this.
Important message from the supplier
I’m based in Kanazawa but can take you anywhere in the Ishikawa, Toyama, Gifu, or Fukui areas. If you have a specific itinerary or destination in mind that isn’t listed in my current tours, feel free to contact me. I’d be happy to create a custom package tailored to your interests.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2025
About Tour Guide Richard G.
Hi, thanks for checking out my profile! I'm Richard, originally from England and now living in Kanazawa, Japan. I've been here for four years and have grown to love this amazing city and the surrounding Ishikawa prefecture.
With help from my wife and her family, who were born and raised in Kanazawa, I’ve discovered not only the famous sights and places to eat and shop, but also some of the lesser-known hidden gems. Whether you're into history, food, gaming, art, or shopping, there's something here for everyone. I'd love to help you explore it all!
Interested in local history and culture? Keen to try incredible hidden food spots? Want to shop for records, fashion and quirky items? Got a craving to go hunting for retro and/or modern video games? I have you covered!
I also have a 7-seater car, so I can take you to exciting places beyond Ishikawa if you're up for it!
Reach out and ask me anything, I am always happy to help!
Reviews
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Rowena S.
“5 out of 5 stars”
We had an absolutely wonderful day exploring Shirakawa-go and Gokayama with our brilliant guide, Richard Gray. Richard was kind, thoughtful, patient, and incredibly informative throughout the tour. He made sure to point out the best viewpoints and the most fascinating cultural highlights, allowing us to truly appreciate the beauty and heritage of the region. The pacing of the day was perfect — we never felt rushed and had plenty of time to take in each experience at a comfortable pace. We would highly recommend Richard to anyone looking for an excellent, engaging, and sympathetic English-speaking guide while staying in the Kanazawa area.
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Richard G.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It was an absolute pleasure spending the day with you both. You were fantastic company and a real delight to talk with and get to know. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the beauty and history of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama with you both, along with a few good laughs! I hope the rest of your travels in Japan are just as memorable. Safe journeys, and thank you again for a wonderful day!
Andrew B.
“Above & Beyond”
This is actually a very easy review to write. The theme is clear and it's simply this... we found that Richard will go "above and beyond" to ensure that his guests have a wonderfully memorable tour of Kanazawa. Our tour was scheduled for our first full day in Kanazawa and we knew that we would have some time on our hands the day before as we took a morning Shinkansen from Tokyo. When we asked Richard about ideas for restaurants or activities that we might do on that prior day, he gave us a wealth of suggestions that beautifully dovetailed with the tour on the subsequent day. For our day together, highlights of our tour included Omicho Market, Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, and Myouryuji. All of these sites left a lasting impression on us, but probably none more so than Kenrokuen Garden. When one hears of the six features of this garden - spaciousness & seclusion, artifice & antiquity, and water-courses & panoramas - it feels quite abstract. Having now walked the gardens, these attributes become real and provide a sense unlike any other that we've experienced. Kenrokuen Garden is truly a magical site and the memory of that visit will remain with us for a long time to come. Myouryuji, which is also known as the "Ninja Temple", was also a surprise. On his own initiative, Richard found last minute reservations for this highly sought-after tour and gave us the option of experiencing it. We, of course, gladly accepted and had a chance to see an amazing piece of history in the form of a very unique Buddhist temple. That this unexpected addition pushed our time together beyond the planned "cut-off" didn't seem to matter a whit to Richard. He simply wanted us to enjoy a city that he greatly respects and loves. Intermingled with all our site visits was a chance to discuss with Richard what it is like living in Kanazawa. All told, it truly was like touring a city with a good friend who has as their highest priority the goal of making your visit as enjoyable as possible!
Richard G.
Thank you, Andrew and Lisa, for taking the time to share your experience and for your kind words. I had a wonderful time showing you around Kanazawa and getting to know you both. I genuinely felt sad when our tour came to an end, as it truly felt like I had made new friends. If you need any help or advice during the rest of your trip, please feel free to message me and I will gladly help if I can. I have sent you some of the photos we took via WhatsApp, and I hope you have received them. Wishing you a fantastic remainder of your stay in Japan! Warm regards, Richard
$408/ per group
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Tailored Shopping Experience in Kanazawa!
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