Hokuriku Plus 1 | Recommended Local Trips | Quality Assurance System for Tour Operators

Hokuriku Plus 1: Two days at the historical cultural town of Kanazawa and the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System at Noto
Hokuriku Plus 1: Five-day excursion to Fukui
Hokuriku Plus 1: Toyama Fun Tour: Enjoy the Historic Village of Shirakawa-go (a World Heritage Site), magnificent nature and hot springs

Hokuriku Plus 1: Two days at the historical cultural town of Kanazawa and the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System at Noto

ROUTE MAP

SCHEDULE

Area: Kanazawa and Noto
Number of days: Two days

Samurai cultural experience: Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa Castle, the Nagamachi Buke Yashiki District and the Higashi Chaya District
Traditional crafts experience: Gold leaf gilding
Culinary experiences: Serving tea, Omicho Market, Wajima Asaichi (Morning) Market, Noto-don rice bowls
Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi: Senmaida rice fields, Chirihama Beach Driveway, Noto-don rice bowls

Available period: Available Year-round

Note:

On stormy days particularly in winter, Chirihama Beach Driveway (day two) may be closed. Wajima Asaichi (Morning) Market may have shorter operating hours and fewer stalls open when the fishing conditions are poor due to stormy weather.

Day 1

Departure location/ overnight location	Time	Transportation	Activities	Meals (accommodations)
Depart from Tokyo Station	Time needed: 2.5 hours	Hokuriku Shinkansen	From Tokyo Station to Kanazawa Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.	Breakfast – no Lunch – yes Dinner – no Stay in Kanazawa (or at Wakura Onsen)
Depart from Kanazawa Station	Time needed: 8 hours	Chartered bus	After arriving at Kanazawa Station, ride a chartered bus to see the sights in Kanazawa. Kenroku-en Garden One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Enjoy the beauty here through the four seasons of the year. Kanazawa Castle Park and Gyokusen'inmaru Park The castle of the Maeda clan who ruled the Kaga Domain. Have a cultural experience serving traditional tea at the newly restored Gyokusen'inmaru Park. Omicho Market (including lunch) The culinary pantry for Kanazawa residents. In addition to fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan, offerings at the market include certified Kaga and Noto vegetables. In the market, enjoy sushi, seafood rice bowls and other fresh seafood delights from the Sea of Japan! Higashi Chaya District One of three geisha districts in Kanazawa. While strolling about, enjoy charming scenery along the streets. Kaikaro or Shima Two traditional teahouses that welcome visitors. Gold Leaf Sakuda or Hazuka Try your hand at laying gold leaf or find elegant gold-leaf crafts for purchase. The Nagamachi Buke Yashiki District Visit mansions once owned by middle-class retainers of the Kaga Domain. Hotel check-in Check in at Kanazawa (or Wakura Onsen.)

Departure location/
overnight location

Time

Transportation

Activities

Meals (accommodations)

Depart from Tokyo Station

Time needed:
2.5 hours

Hokuriku Shinkansen

From Tokyo Station to Kanazawa Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Breakfast – no
Lunch – yes
Dinner – no
Stay in Kanazawa (or at Wakura Onsen)

Depart from Kanazawa Station

Time needed:
8 hours

Chartered bus

After arriving at Kanazawa Station, ride a chartered bus to see the sights in Kanazawa.

Kenroku-en Garden
One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Enjoy the beauty here through the four seasons of the year.
Kanazawa Castle Park and Gyokusen'inmaru Park
The castle of the Maeda clan who ruled the Kaga Domain. Have a cultural experience serving traditional tea at the newly restored Gyokusen'inmaru Park.
Omicho Market (including lunch)
The culinary pantry for Kanazawa residents. In addition to fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan, offerings at the market include certified Kaga and Noto vegetables. In the market, enjoy sushi, seafood rice bowls and other fresh seafood delights from the Sea of Japan!
Higashi Chaya District
One of three geisha districts in Kanazawa. While strolling about, enjoy charming scenery along the streets.
Kaikaro or Shima
Two traditional teahouses that welcome visitors.
Gold Leaf Sakuda or Hazuka
Try your hand at laying gold leaf or find elegant gold-leaf crafts for purchase.
The Nagamachi Buke Yashiki District
Visit mansions once owned by middle-class retainers of the Kaga Domain.
Hotel check-in
Check in at Kanazawa (or Wakura Onsen.)

Day 2

Departure location/ overnight location	Time	Transportation	Activities	Meals (accommodations)
Depart from Kanazawa (or Wakura Onsen) Arrive in Wajima	Time needed: 2 hours (or 1 hour)	Chartered bus	Travel by chartered bus from the hotel in Kanazawa (or Wakura Onsen) to Wajima.	Breakfast – yes Lunch – yes Dinner – no
Wajima Chirihama	Time needed: 6.5 hours	Chartered bus	Wajima Asaichi (Morning) Market One of Japan's Three Great Morning Markets. Some 200 stalls pack the street selling their goods. Chatting with the sellers while buying is a great delight. Shiroyone Senmaida A spot of scenic beauty typifying Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Enjoy the beautiful scenery with more than a thousand terraced fields cascading down to the Sea of Japan. Noto-don rice bowls – lunch Local Noto ingredients on rice served in dishes made by artisans. Select from shops with different specialties: seafood, Noto beef, local Noto vegetables and more! The Wajima lacquered chopsticks are yours to take home. Kiriko Lantern Museum Learn about the Kiriko Matsuri (Festival) held all over the Noto Peninsula each summer. The museum displays the votive lanterns known as "hoto" that are paraded during the festival. Chirihama Beach Driveway – views from the bus windows Eight kilometers in length, this public road is the only one in Japan that runs along a sandy beach. Enjoy the drive at the edge of the surf!
Depart from Kanazawa Station	Time needed: 2.5 hours	Hokuriku Shinkansen	Depart from Kanazawa Station for Tokyo.

Departure location/
overnight location

Time

Transportation

Activities

Meals (accommodations)

Depart from Kanazawa (or Wakura Onsen)

Arrive in Wajima

Time needed:
2 hours
(or 1 hour)

Chartered bus

Travel by chartered bus from the hotel in Kanazawa (or Wakura Onsen) to Wajima.

Breakfast – yes
Lunch – yes
Dinner – no

Wajima

Chirihama

Time needed:
6.5 hours

Chartered bus

Wajima Asaichi (Morning) Market
One of Japan's Three Great Morning Markets. Some 200 stalls pack the street selling their goods. Chatting with the sellers while buying is a great delight.
Shiroyone Senmaida
A spot of scenic beauty typifying Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Enjoy the beautiful scenery with more than a thousand terraced fields cascading down to the Sea of Japan.
Noto-don rice bowls – lunch
Local Noto ingredients on rice served in dishes made by artisans. Select from shops with different specialties: seafood, Noto beef, local Noto vegetables and more! The Wajima lacquered chopsticks are yours to take home.
Kiriko Lantern Museum
Learn about the Kiriko Matsuri (Festival) held all over the Noto Peninsula each summer. The museum displays the votive lanterns known as "hoto" that are paraded during the festival.
Chirihama Beach Driveway – views from the bus windows
Eight kilometers in length, this public road is the only one in Japan that runs along a sandy beach. Enjoy the drive at the edge of the surf!

Depart from Kanazawa Station

Time needed:
2.5 hours

Hokuriku Shinkansen

Depart from Kanazawa Station for Tokyo.

Hokuriku Plus 1: Five-day excursion to Fukui

ROUTE MAP

SCHEDULE

Area: Awara Onsen, Katsuyama and the Five Lakes of Mikata
Number of days: Five days

Take a cruise at Tojinbo
Maruoka Castle, featuring Japan's oldest donjon
Japanese cultural experiences: hot springs, bamboo work and papermaking
Visit Yoko-kan Garden, ranked fourth highest among Japanese gardens in 2015
Take in the panoramic view from the Rainbow Line summit park overlooking the Five Lakes of Mikata
Nihonkai Sakanamachi, the largest seafood market on the Sea of Japan side of Japan

Available period: Available Year-round

Note:

Please note that there may be changes to the itinerary due to construction and other circumstances.

Day 1

Departure location/ overnight location	Time	Transportation	Activities	Meals (accommodations)
Arrive at Awara Onsen				Breakfast – no Lunch – no Dinner – yes Stay in Awara Onsen

Day 2

Departure location/ overnight location	Time	Transportation	Activities	Meals (accommodations)
Depart from the hotel Tojinbo Maruoka Echizen Take Ningyo no Sato	Time needed: 8 hours	Chartered bus	Breakfast at the ryokan Travel to Tojinbo by bus Visit spectacular Tojinbo viewpoints Take a Tojinbo and Oshima cruise Lunch in Maruoka Maruoka Castle sightseeing Tour and hands-on bamboo work practice at Echizen Take Ningyo no Sato Depart from Echizen Take Ningyo no Sato Arrive at the hotel Western-style dinner in the hotel	Breakfast – yes Lunch – yes Dinner – yes Stay in Katsuyama district

Departure location/
overnight location

Time

Transportation

Activities

Meals (accommodations)

Depart from the hotel

Tojinbo

Maruoka

Echizen Take Ningyo no Sato

Time needed:
8 hours

Chartered bus

Breakfast at the ryokan

Travel to Tojinbo by bus
Visit spectacular Tojinbo viewpoints
Take a Tojinbo and Oshima cruise

Lunch in Maruoka

Maruoka Castle sightseeing
Tour and hands-on bamboo work practice at Echizen Take Ningyo no Sato
Depart from Echizen Take Ningyo no Sato
Arrive at the hotel

Western-style dinner in the hotel

Breakfast – yes
Lunch – yes
Dinner – yes
Stay in Katsuyama district

Day 3

Departure location/ overnight location	Time	Transportation	Activities	Meals (accommodations)
Depart from the hotel Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum Eihei-ji Temple Urushi-no-Sato Kaikan The Ichijodani Asakura Family Historic Ruins	Time needed: 8 hours, 45 minutes	Chartered bus	Breakfast at the hotel Visit the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum Tour Eihei-ji Temple Lunch at a local restaurant Practice painting at Urushi-no-Sato Kaikan Tour the Ichijodani Asakura Family Historic Ruins Dinner in Fukui—on your own	Breakfast – yes Lunch – yes Dinner – no Stay in Fukui

Departure location/
overnight location

Time

Transportation

Activities

Meals (accommodations)

Depart from the hotel

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

Eihei-ji Temple

Urushi-no-Sato Kaikan

The Ichijodani Asakura Family Historic Ruins

Time needed:
8 hours, 45 minutes

Chartered bus

Breakfast at the hotel

Visit the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
Tour Eihei-ji Temple

Lunch at a local restaurant

Practice painting at Urushi-no-Sato Kaikan
Tour the Ichijodani Asakura Family Historic Ruins

Dinner in Fukui—on your own

Breakfast – yes
Lunch – yes
Dinner – no
Stay in Fukui

Day 4

Departure location/ overnight location	Time	Transportation	Activities	Meals (accommodations)
Depart from the hotel Yoko-kan Garden Echizen Washi Village The Five Lakes of Mikata Sakanamachi	Time needed: 9 hours, 15 minutes	Chartered bus	Breakfast at the hotel Stroll around Yoko-kan Garden Hands-on experience making paper at Echizen Washi Village Depart for sightseeing at the Five Lakes of Mikata, enjoy an onboard bento lunch Rainbow Line summit park overlooking the Five Lakes of Mikata Ride the aerial lift or cable car to the summit park Wago-jinja Shrine, a rose garden, and roof tile throwing (fee applies) Tour Nihonkai Sakanamachi, the largest seafood market on the Sea of Japan side of Japan	Breakfast – yes Lunch – yes Dinner – no Stay in Fukui

Departure location/
overnight location

Time

Transportation

Activities

Meals (accommodations)

Depart from the hotel

Yoko-kan Garden

Echizen Washi Village

The Five Lakes of Mikata

Sakanamachi

Time needed:
9 hours, 15 minutes

Chartered bus

Breakfast at the hotel

Stroll around Yoko-kan Garden
Hands-on experience making paper at Echizen Washi Village
Depart for sightseeing at the Five Lakes of Mikata, enjoy an onboard bento lunch
Rainbow Line summit park overlooking the Five Lakes of Mikata
Ride the aerial lift or cable car to the summit park
Wago-jinja Shrine, a rose garden, and roof tile throwing (fee applies)
Tour Nihonkai Sakanamachi, the largest seafood market on the Sea of Japan side of Japan

Breakfast – yes
Lunch – yes
Dinner – no
Stay in Fukui

Day 5

Departure location/ overnight location	Time	Transportation	Activities	Meals (accommodations)
Depart from Fukui			Breakfast at the hotel Individual check-out, then tour end	Breakfast – yes Lunch – no Dinner – no

Departure location/
overnight location

Time

Transportation

Activities

Meals (accommodations)

Depart from Fukui

Breakfast at the hotel

Individual check-out, then tour end

Breakfast – yes
Lunch – no
Dinner – no

Hokuriku Plus 1: Toyama Fun Tour: Enjoy the Historic Village of Shirakawa-go (a World Heritage Site), magnificent nature and hot springs

ROUTE MAP

SCHEDULE

Area: Toyama
Number of days: Two days

Ride the Hokuriku Shinkansen
Touring Gokayama, a World Heritage Site, and viewing the gassho-zukuri houses
Visiting Zuiryu-ji Temple, a National Treasure
Stay at Himi Onsen and gaze at the magnificent Tateyama Mountains from the outdoor bath.
Watch the afternoon fish auction at JF Shinminato , the local fish cooperative.
Have a Hamayaki lunch at JF Shinminato made from freshly-caught seafood (day one)
Have a lunch of char, Gokayama tofu—a local specialty—and soba at Gokayama (day two)

Available period: Available Year-round

Note:

JF Shinminato afternoon seafood auction: Closed on Wednesdays and Sundays

Day 1

Departure location/ overnight location	Time	Transportation	Activities	Meals (accommodations)
Depart from Tokyo Station	Time needed: 2 hours, 55 minutes	Shinkansen	To Shin-Takaoka in Toyama by Hokuriku Shinkansen
Depart from Shin-Takaoka Station Shinminato Himi	Time needed: 6 hours	Chartered bus	Travel to Shinminato by bus after arriving at Shin-Takaoka Station Shinminato Kitto Kito Market (Watch the afternoon seafood auction and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch) Travel to Himi by bus Himi-banya – walking around, shopping Fresh seafood, confections and other goods are available for sale in this "village" fashioned with traditional Edo-style architecture. To Himi Onsen Ryokan check-in Dinner in the ryokan	Breakfast – no Lunch – yes Dinner – yes Stay in Himi Onsen

Departure location/
overnight location

Time

Transportation

Activities

Meals (accommodations)

Depart from Tokyo Station

Time needed:
2 hours, 55 minutes

Shinkansen

To Shin-Takaoka in Toyama by Hokuriku Shinkansen

Depart from Shin-Takaoka Station

Shinminato

Himi

Time needed:
6 hours

Chartered bus

Travel to Shinminato by bus after arriving at Shin-Takaoka Station

Shinminato Kitto Kito Market
(Watch the afternoon seafood auction and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch)

Travel to Himi by bus

Himi-banya – walking around, shopping
Fresh seafood, confections and other goods are available for sale in this "village" fashioned with traditional Edo-style architecture.

To Himi Onsen
Ryokan check-in
Dinner in the ryokan

Breakfast – no
Lunch – yes
Dinner – yes
Stay in Himi Onsen

Day 2

Departure location/ overnight location	Time	Transportation	Activities	Meals (accommodations)
Depart from Himi Arrive in Takaoka	Time needed: 1 hours, 45 minutes	Chartered bus	Check out of the ryokan, travel to Takaoka and Zuiryu-ji Temple Visit Zuiryu-ji Temple, a National Treasure (The family temple of Maeda Toshinaga, leader of the Kaga Maeda clan in the sixteenth century)	Breakfast – yes Lunch – yes Dinner – no
Depart from Takaoka Gokayama Kanazawa Station	Time needed: 6 hours	Chartered bus	To Gokayama Lunch of local char, soba, Gokayama tofu and mountain vegetables in a historical gassho-style home Tour Suginama, a World Heritage Site village Travel to Ainokura Village Tour Ainokura, a World Heritage Site village
Depart from Kanazawa Station Arrive in Osaka Station	Evening		Travel to Osaka on the Thunderbird, a JR limited express (2 hours, 45 minutes from Kanazawa to Osaka)

Departure location/
overnight location

Time

Transportation

Activities

Meals (accommodations)

Depart from Himi

Arrive in Takaoka

Time needed:
1 hours, 45 minutes

Chartered bus

Check out of the ryokan, travel to Takaoka and Zuiryu-ji Temple

Visit Zuiryu-ji Temple, a National Treasure
(The family temple of Maeda Toshinaga, leader of the Kaga Maeda clan in the sixteenth century)

Breakfast – yes
Lunch – yes
Dinner – no

Depart from Takaoka

Gokayama

Kanazawa Station

Time needed:
6 hours

Chartered bus

To Gokayama
Lunch of local char, soba, Gokayama tofu and mountain vegetables in a historical gassho-style home
Tour Suginama, a World Heritage Site village
Travel to Ainokura Village
Tour Ainokura, a World Heritage Site village

Depart from Kanazawa Station

Arrive in Osaka Station

Evening

Travel to Osaka on the Thunderbird, a JR limited express (2 hours, 45 minutes from Kanazawa to Osaka)