A monitoring tour was held in Nanao Bay, Ishikawa Prefecture, for a new tourism initiative called  “yacht cruising & cycling,” which we have heard of in other countries but which is new to Japan.
Here we introduce “stylish cruising” in Nanao Bay, which is calm throughout the year, and “Noto Island Cycling”, which is safe even for beginners.

Start at Wakura Onsen (Wakura hot spring)

Wakura Onsen is known as one of the most exclusive hot spring resorts in Japan, with ryokans (Japanese style inns) lining Noto Peninsula facing Nanao Bay.

In addition, the rich natural “satoyama and satoumi” of Noto, surrounded by the sea and mountains where Wakura Onsen is located, was the first in Japan to be recognized as a “Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)” and visitors can enjoy the natural scenery of the four seasons.

The cruising was originally planned to go northward from this Wakura Onsen to Nanao Bay, but due to the northerly winds, the start was changed to Anamizu Port.

Yachts can run in headwinds, but they sway a lot and cause seasickness, which is a concern for everyone.
By taking advantage of the location of Nanao Bay, where local train lines run along the coast, and by flexibly changing the itinerary, we can minimize this concern as much as possible.
The winds are weaker and the yachts run with a tailwind, so even first-time sailors will not feel seasick. Tea time can also be enjoyed on deck.
If you are carrying your own bicycle, a tailwind also has the advantage of reducing splashing of seawater.

First, you will take a 28-km train ride from Wakura Onsen Station to Anamizu Station on Nanao Line of Noto Railway.

Anamizu Station is about 35minutes away while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Nanao Bay from the train window. From there, we will head to Anamizu Port.

The cross bike on the yacht can also be carried on Noto Railway”.
Normally, a wheeled bag is required, but rental bicycles from Wakura Onsen Tourist Association, including the yacht’s cross bikes, can be ridden as is with special permission.
*Service hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays.
Note: Two to three vehicles are allowed per vehicle (Please note that rides may be denied if the area is crowded with group tourists, etc.).

Cruising from Anamizu Port to Noto Island

At Anamizu Port, a yacht is standing by and rental bicycles (cross bikes) are available on board.

Finally, we will cruise about 15km southeastward through Nanao-Kita Bay to Koda Port on Noto Island.

First, you will be welcomed with a welcome drink on board.

From the door of the ship, you have a luxurious view of the bicycle and the sea.

Outside, the view toward the bow.

Behind you are bicycles and the sea.

Looking up, the big sail is catching the wind.

After about two hours of cruising, the yacht arrives at the port of Kouda, Noto island.

Cycling Noto Island

After arriving at Kouda Port, we prepared for cycling and started.

At a nearby park, we had lunch time with a lunch box that each of us had reserved in advance.

The cycling tour is about 4km one way to “Dolphin Point”.
First, the guide told us about the island’s famous “Noto Island Kouda Fire Festival” at Fire Festival Square.

We were then taken on a tour of the “Kouda Fire Festival Center”.

A short cycling through a peaceful satoyama with almost no traffic lights and very little traffic took us along Nanao Bay.

A short cycling later, we came to Dolphin Point.

Since around 2001, wild southern bottlenose dolphins have been living in Nanao Bay.
Currently, there are more than a dozen of them, making it the northernmost habitat in the world for southern bottlenose dolphins.
If you are lucky, you can observe them from this “Dolphin Point.”

We cycled back the way we came, through the town Kouda to Kouda Port.

Twin Bridges Noto and – to Wakura Port

Loading the bicycles on the yacht again, we enjoyed cruising about 15km to Wakura Port.

Passing under “Twin Bridges Noto”, one of the two bridges connecting Noto Peninsula and Noto Island, we headed for Nanao West Bay.

@Yoshimasa AKAI

After passing the bridge, a beautiful tea time.

5:00 p.m. Arrive at Wakura Port to end the “Cruising & Cycling” monitoring tour.

@Yoshimasa AKAI

Course Introduction

Access to Wakura Onsen

By train: From Tokyo Station to Wakura Onsen Station via JR Hokuriku Shinkansen and JR Nanao Line, approx. 3hr. 30min.
By air: Haneda Airport – Noto Satoyama Airport – Bus to Wakura Onsen Station: 2hours and 20minutes

▼Wakura Onsen Tourism Association
https://www.wakura.or.jp/

▼Noto Island Tourist Association
http://www.notojima.org/

▼Wakura Onsen Bicycle Rental
https://tabi-rin.com/archives/bicycle_info/30299

Summary

Nanao Bay is so calm that it is hard to believe that it is on Noto Peninsula facing the Sea of Japan. Noto Island, with its beautiful sea and satoyama landscape that evokes the original landscape of Japan. The luxurious location of Wakura Onsen, where you can enjoy hot springs and seafood, is the base of the trip.
The tour was an extraordinary experience of a yacht cruising there.

The attraction of a yacht is the scenery from the boat, which cannot be seen from a bicycle (from the road), and the “fashionable and luxurious time” spent on board. The speed at which the boat sails forward is about 5knots (about 10 km/h), but the wind is different from that of a bicycle.

This tour included an 8-km bike ride on Noto Island, but it is possible to plan a 30-km bike ride from Wakura Onsen to Kouda Port (or 60km to Anamizu Port beyond that) first, and then cruise back in luxury on a yacht.

• Kouda Port – Noto Island half round trip – Wakura Onsen (by yacht): Approx. 30km
• Wakura Onsen – Along Nanao Bay – Noto Island half round trip – Kouda Port (by yacht): Approx. 30km
• Kouda Port – Noto Island half round trip – Anamizu Port (by yacht): Approx. 48km

If you gather a group of friends and rent out a yacht, you can make your own plan by combining a day of cruising with a day of exploring the island and marine activities on a rented bicycle for family members who do not ride bicycles while you ride your bike.

On top of that, in this Nanao Bay Cruising & Noto Island Cycling Tour,  you can enjoy seafood and hot springs when you return to Wakura Onsen.
If you would like to enjoy this tour, please contact us at the following address.

Inquiries: Wakura Onsen Tourist Association (Tel. +81 767-62-1555)