Noto Peninsula Tour | 8 Days

Wake up to a glimmering sunrise over the ocean outside your window. Then, take a stroll on the sandy beach before we meet together for breakfast. Today, we will trace the rocky cliffs of the west coast of the Noto Peninsula! While on our route, we will visit several incredible sites, including "The Longest Bench in the World"!

Our home this evening is a very traditional ryokan situated right on the seaside. Step into this charming ryokan, nestled against a local vineyard. Together, we'll enjoy dinner and a tasting of the local wine while the sunset sets into the ocean!

After two days of coastline tracing, we will take to the rolling hills of the inland of Noto. Here lies bountiful valleys of rice and charming traditional hamlets. We will stop for a one-of-a-kind local lunch in a traditional Japanese Minka House that has been converted into a farm to table restaurant.

From here, we follow the rivers back down to the remote and artisan town of Wajima. Home to the most renown Japanese Nurimono Lacquerware, Wajima is a gorgeous coastal town with many nooks and crannies worth exploring.

This morning, take it easy and sleep in, or head out for a stroll in your yukata robes along the beach. After breakfast, we will hop on our bikes and roll down to the famous Asaichi Morning Market for coffee and matcha before heading out to our ride. For those who want a day off, opt to walk the 15min along the coast down to the market from the hotel and enjoy more time at the market!

For those riding today, we will start with our steepest climb of the trip as we get up into the hidden Rindo Forest Roads, nestled on the hills above town. Once we are on the ridge, sneak views between the slender pines as we wiggle higher and higher. The tree-line begins to break at the summit, and a stunning view of terraced rice fields stretching all the way to the ocean is our reward.

We will wiggle our way through the rice paddies and soak in the fresh ocean breeze before tracing a new stretch of coast back to Wajima Town. Once back in town we can regroup with those that took a rest day for a delicious Japanese-Italian Fusion lunch.

We will leave you to explore on your own for the afternoon through town. Or, head back to the ryokan to relax and rejuvenate in the onsen waters.

On our longest day of the tour, the scenery is sure to motivate us! Today we trace the east coast of Noto, with the tallest mountain range in Japan, the Japanese Alps, just across the Toyama Bay. With snowcaps nearly year-round, the contrast of sandy beaches and snowy peaks is truly one of a kind!

Following the squiggles of the coast, we will come upon the small town of Anamizu, home to a wonderful local sushi restaurant with over 40 years of family tradition. From here, we will hop the two bridges to the small Noto Island and over to Wakura Onsen Town where our ryokan is tonight.

After a morning soak and breakfast, we will head back over the bridge to Noto Island for some more amazing costal exploration.

Today’s ride is an exploration of the quite fishing villages of Noto Island. With costal views stretching out the the Japanese Alps across the Toyama Bay this ride through some of the least driven roads in the area will take us far off the beaten path.

As we finish our lap of the island we will hop back onto the mainland and arrive at Wakura Onsen village. A small collection of ryokan hotels right beside the ocean with soft deep orange-red iron rich waters. Our stay tonight is in town with local kaiseki meals full of locally grown produce and seafood caught in the waters that surround.

On our final day, we will head out one last time and trace the remainder of the peninsula down to the small port town of Himi. Known for its collection of anime statues that dot the main streets in town, Himi is also home to a port that specializes in catching Himi Kanburi, Winter Yellow Tail Tuna.

Before lunch we can stop at the local onsen just down the road for a quick shower up and dip in the hot springs. Then, we will head down the road the end of our ride today arriving at the port. Here we where we can walk through the active fishery to a restaurant within the port itself and get the freshest fish in town right off the boat! After a delicious lunch together, we'll recount all the highlights of our week-long adventure before we say farewell. Til next time - mata ne!