Southern Ishikawa
Introduction
The city of Komatsu is the major center in South Ishikawa. This is the second largest city in Ishikawa after Kanazawa and has what many people would consider the second best night - life after Kanazawa (or first depending where your loyalties lie!).
Information
Lacking the rugged coastlines and unspoiled forests of the northern part of the
prefecture as well as the rather-continuous stretches of urban-ness that mark
central Ishikawa, it might seem easy to dismiss the south as lacking any sort of
defining features of its own. However, a closer inspection reveals that
not only is nature abundantly present, but the region is also host to the second
largest city in the prefecture, as well as its primary airport.
While Kanazawa in the central area plays hosts to Ishikawa's star attraction - Kenrokuen garden, the southern region contains its second most famous attraction, the holy mountain of Mount Hakusan, and its many surrounding mountains (the latter of which provide top-notch skiing in the winter!) In addition, it is from this region that Ishikawa's moniker "hyakuman koku" ("land of the million koku (5 million bushels) of rice") mainly derives - a nod to the rice fields which are still found in abundance anywhere you might travel in the area. As well, some of the prefecture's best onsens are to be found here!
While Kanazawa in the central area plays hosts to Ishikawa's star attraction - Kenrokuen garden, the southern region contains its second most famous attraction, the holy mountain of Mount Hakusan, and its many surrounding mountains (the latter of which provide top-notch skiing in the winter!) In addition, it is from this region that Ishikawa's moniker "hyakuman koku" ("land of the million koku (5 million bushels) of rice") mainly derives - a nod to the rice fields which are still found in abundance anywhere you might travel in the area. As well, some of the prefecture's best onsens are to be found here!
Geography
Southern Ishikawa is where the real mountains begin in Ishikawa. Contained in this area of the
prefecture is the important peak of Mount Hakusan. This stunning mountain, literally translated as White Mountain can dominate the skyline on clear days and is well worth a climb when it isn't actually white. The Mount Hakusan National Park also contains the majority of the ski resorts in Ishikawa and some of these are excellent including Ichirino Onsen and Seymour Ski areas. The area does have its share of beaches and though these do not compare with the standard in the Northern Noto for cleanliness or tranquility, they are there good ones aren't too hard to find.
Kaga is set in beautiful surroundings with a fine view over the mountains.
Kaga is set in beautiful surroundings with a fine view over the mountains.
Transport
Most of the towns in this area (as with central Ishikawa) are located on a
train route and are easily accessed from one another - buses are rarely relied
upon for inter-town travel unlike the Noto. However, because the main
airport for the prefecture is located in Komatsu, there is a shuttle bus service
which runs between Komatsu and Kanazawa (stopping at various places along the
way) several times a day. From Kanazawa station of course, the rest of the
prefecture can be easily accessed. Unless you live extremely far up in the
northern peninsula, chances are good that you will rely on this airport for all
your long distance/international travel. The airport also has flights to
Korea several times a week (make sure to book in advanced to ensure you are free
on one of the days that the flight is operating).
While the southern part of the prefecture is still relatively urban, unlike most JETs living in central Ishikawa (most of whom are located in Kanazawa), it is not uncommon for JETs living in the south to own cars, particularly municipal ALTs who are required to travel to many schools during the course of their work. Parking is not entirely unreasonable, and the flexibility this affords allows them to travel relatively easily.
Being in the south also means having somewhat better access to certain other parts of Japan, most notably the Kansai region. From Komatsu it is a mere 1 hour 45 to Kyoto...! For those of you who are big into partying, you'll be glad to know that it is only a 20 minutes fast train to Kanazawa where the last train home is later than the last train in Tokyo - 3:15 AM!
For more information on inter/intra prefectural travel (including some routes and timetables), please click [here].
While the southern part of the prefecture is still relatively urban, unlike most JETs living in central Ishikawa (most of whom are located in Kanazawa), it is not uncommon for JETs living in the south to own cars, particularly municipal ALTs who are required to travel to many schools during the course of their work. Parking is not entirely unreasonable, and the flexibility this affords allows them to travel relatively easily.
Being in the south also means having somewhat better access to certain other parts of Japan, most notably the Kansai region. From Komatsu it is a mere 1 hour 45 to Kyoto...! For those of you who are big into partying, you'll be glad to know that it is only a 20 minutes fast train to Kanazawa where the last train home is later than the last train in Tokyo - 3:15 AM!
For more information on inter/intra prefectural travel (including some routes and timetables), please click [here].
Towns
Events
Like most of the other towns in the prefecture, each of the cities in the south
have a variety of small festivals and celebrations throughout the year.
One example might be the "Gogan-shinji Takewari Festival" in Kaga-city every February 10th, a rare shinto ritual that is highlighted by the smashing of hundreds of bamboo rods against the floor of the Sugou-isobe shrine. Chopsticks are then made from the broken splinters and it is popularly believed that people who use these chopsticks are guaranteed good health for the rest of the year.
One example might be the "Gogan-shinji Takewari Festival" in Kaga-city every February 10th, a rare shinto ritual that is highlighted by the smashing of hundreds of bamboo rods against the floor of the Sugou-isobe shrine. Chopsticks are then made from the broken splinters and it is popularly believed that people who use these chopsticks are guaranteed good health for the rest of the year.
Points of Interest
No JET should finish up their contract in Ishikawa without having climb Mount
Hakusan! Surrounded by other beautiful mountains as well as a splendid
national park, this mountain is opened to climbers from early summer until
mid-fall, and provides a view from the top not to be missed! In addition,
the many onsens which dot the area are wonderful treasures to be discovered -
even those who may not normally be "into" onsens would do well to give at least
a few of them a try!
In the winter, the south comes into its own with a variety of skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports resorts which draw huge crowds not only from within Ishikawa, but Japan at large. If you've never learned to ski or snowboard - well, now's the time! Many JETs enjoy getting together for skiing/boarding weekends, and larger excursions are often organized through AJET... be sure to give it a whirl!
In the winter, the south comes into its own with a variety of skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports resorts which draw huge crowds not only from within Ishikawa, but Japan at large. If you've never learned to ski or snowboard - well, now's the time! Many JETs enjoy getting together for skiing/boarding weekends, and larger excursions are often organized through AJET... be sure to give it a whirl!
Life in Southern Ishikawa
Unlike many of their counterparts in the northern part of the prefecture, the
fact that southern Ishikawa is relatively urban means that JETs living in this
area often don't have as much cause to travel to Kanazawa. This doesn't
mean there's a shortage of things to do, however!
In particular, the rugged mountains lend themselves well to all manner of outdoor activities, notably hiking (in the summer) - particularly the famed Hakusan climb - and skiing, snowboarding and the like during the winter. The area is filled with a variety of ski resorts which will become filled during the peak season, as well as a ton of different relaxing onsens and resorts which can be enjoyed year round. The location both near a large airport and a main express train line which runs straight into the heart of Kansai means that the rest of the world is very easily accessable at a moment's notice!
All in all, life in the south is a very nice blend of the "urban-ness" of the central region and the "nature" that marks the northern part of the prefecture.
In particular, the rugged mountains lend themselves well to all manner of outdoor activities, notably hiking (in the summer) - particularly the famed Hakusan climb - and skiing, snowboarding and the like during the winter. The area is filled with a variety of ski resorts which will become filled during the peak season, as well as a ton of different relaxing onsens and resorts which can be enjoyed year round. The location both near a large airport and a main express train line which runs straight into the heart of Kansai means that the rest of the world is very easily accessable at a moment's notice!
All in all, life in the south is a very nice blend of the "urban-ness" of the central region and the "nature" that marks the northern part of the prefecture.