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The Noto Hanto (Peninsular) is an area of rugged coastlines and very traditional beautiful towns. The population density is one of the lowest on the island of Honshu, meaning ancient traditions have been allowed to stay, though modern Japan has at the same time trickled in. JETs who are placed here will see a different side to Japan to those placed in the bigger cities.

However, the bright lights are never far away and all one has to do is jump on a train to Kanazawa or drive down the superb Noto Toll Road and those pleasures only to be found in a city can be experienced.

Geography and Transport

The main centres in the Noto are in Nanao, Hakui, Wajima and Suzu. The JR Nanao line runs from Kanazawa to Nanao taking about one and a half hours to complete its journey. After that the slower country line runs up the Eastern Noto Coastline on its way to Suzu. Unfortunately the Anamizu to Wajima branch has been dispanded and the only method to get to Wajima by public transport is the bus line. However these make the trip to Kanazawa in a time far quicker than the train used to take. There is a new airport opening in Summer 2003 between Anamizu and Yanagida in the Northern Noto. From here one will be able to fly to Tokyo direct saving many hours of travel.

The more rugged eastern coast is made up of small fishing towns and sheltered coastline. The more exposed Western coast has some fantastic sandy beaches running most of the way up the coastline. The northern coast from Wajima to Suzu has some of the most fantastic unspoilt coastline in Japan punctuated by large cliff faces.

Life in the Noto

Many, if not most JETS decide to purchase a car for their time in the Noto and most would highly recommend this. It allows one to explore properly the fantastic countryside as well as to aid when one might feel rather isolated. Isolation however is becoming less and less of an issue with an increasing number of JET participants being placed in the Noto with each year.

There are endless festivals occuring from just about when the weather gets warm to stage them to just about the last possible week! These festivals are a great way to see Japan at its best. The most famous is probably the Wajima festival in August but there is sure to be a great one near your town at some point!

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