The ultimate long weekend from Tokyo gets easier after March 16, 2024 with a brand new Bullet Train extension on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line that opens up a brilliant new Golden Route option in the Ishikawa Prefecture.
Ishikawa Prefecture offers an exquisite blend of deep cultural roots, tradition, heritage, natural wonders, thrilling adventures from mountains to rugged coastlines, and exceptional therapeutic onsen experiences. The new route will reduce travel time now from Tokyo to Kaga to under 3 hours, and these speedy and easy connections deliver a warm welcome to a new influx of visitors from around the world via its new connections to Komatsu and Kaga which offer a brilliant array of experiential options.
For culinary enthusiasts, this means easy access to the delicious treasure trove on offer here. Boasting 167 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide Hokuriku, Ishikawa proudly holds claim as the only prefecture in the region that has received 3 Michelin stars and 10 Green Stars.
Culture and tradition lovers will delight in the splendid offerings of its largest cities. Kanazawa’s famed castles, intriguing architecture, and iconic Geigi population complete with opportunities to dine and discover more about this curious element of the culture abound. And, Komatsu City with its famed Japanese porcelain “Kutani ware” studios creating pieces endemic to the region gives way to opportunities for hands-on experiences while sake lovers can enjoy time at the renowned Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute for a glimpse into the production of this famed beverage. Spiritual centers such as Natadera Temple, feature rich grounds to explore and curious rock faces carved into the cliff.
Komatsu Station has even experienced a revitalization with the fresh addition of Komatsu Nine, a commercial complex featuring local products, beloved eateries, and a thoughtful exchange of ideas with a coworking area and special event space for gatherings. It’s a fresh space that conveys the modern, contemporary side of the region blended with a vision for the future.
Wellness seekers find the expedient travel time to Kaga City ensures more time on the ground to soak up the region’s incredibly revitalizing therapeutic bubbling hot springs. Featuring a collection of the four hot spring towns of Yamashiro, Yamanaka, Katayamazu, and Awazu, the region features incredible wellness opportunities as well as a sanctuary in the form of an array of luxurious ryokans such as Beniva Mukayu, Araya Totoan, and Koyotei. Those traditional-style accommodations welcome guests with incredibly personalized hospitality, stylish accommodations, delicious wholesome cuisine, and revitalizing bathing experiences.
No matter where a traveler opts to go, an easy 3-4 day jaunt from Tokyo is now more seamless than ever opening up a whole new wave of journey possibilities.
The Shinkansen has long been a staple of fast rail travel in Japan, opening in 2015 connecting Tokyo to Kanazawa and an extended route to Osaka is also in the works, scheduled to launch down the road in 2046
For more information on Ishikawa’s tourism opportunities, please visit:
https://www.ishikawatravel.jp/en/
www.facebook.com/visitishikawa
@visitishikawa