Kanazawa, Noto Peninsula, and Other Cities

Discover secrets on the places in and around Kanazawa City,
where are located on the other side of Japan's east coast!
Jump in a Hokuriku-Shinkansen bullet train at JR Tokyo station, 
or fly from Haneda, Fukuoka, Taipei, or more airports, to get!



The Agehama Enden style for the extraction of sea salt has been designated as one of the Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties.

Salt is essential to our health. As you think of salt for our everyday use, where do you think it comes from? Salt exists in mountainous areas, lakes, and oceans around the world. However, in Japan no rock salt is naturally produced. Though 85 percent of table salt is domestically provided from boiled down sea water, ingredients for industrial use rely solely on imports. Since the deregulation of salt sales started in 2002, handmade varieties extracted with salt pans are becoming quite the rage, likely as it is thought that salt processed in the traditional style contains much more mineral content. Salt pans are only able to be developed in areas near the ocean with long daylight hours, such as the Seto Inland Sea coast and Noto Peninsula. Located in Suzu City, Agehama Enden is designated as Important Intangible Folk Culture. If you find yourself in the locale and are willing, you can observe the process.

揚浜塩田 Agehama Enden

Agehama’s process for extracting sea salt is pretty straightforward!

Agehama literally means “risen beach”, while Enden means “salt field”. This traditional work is quite labor-intensive. With pails, craftsmen draw sea water from the Sea of Japan and pour it onto the salt pans, sprinkling it over sand. After the salt becomes more concentrated in the rays of the sun, these same laborers collect the sand containing the thick salt for more filtration with another sea water. This filtered water is called kansui. Kansui water is simmered for 24 hours to boil it down. The skilled craftsmen know how to remove harshness yet allow for the mild taste of minerals to remain. It takes years to refine the technique. The salt pans historically once went out of use because of government monopolization. Now, traditional salts have come back into the spotlight with the liberalization of laws occurring in 2002.

能登の塩 Noto’s Salt

There are some other salt types made in Noto as well. They all taste of the ocean!

Just so you know, there is not only salt made from the Agehama style, but also some other salts extracted through their own unique processes. Similarly, the ingredients are all from the sea water. So what’s the difference between Noto’s salt and the more ubiquitous versions manufactured within a modern factory anyway? It’s said that Noto’s natural salt doesn’t taste overly salty, but has a rather mild mineral-like quality. Every craftsman tries to leave in minerals for their flavorful contribution. Essentially, the end product somewhat tastes of the ocean itself (Make sense!). Good salt can be the best seasoning for many foods. Just a pinch of good salt sets off the ingredients' flavor. It’s said that sophisticated sake lovers in the Edo period enjoyed salt as a side dish for the alcohol. Who would have thought that mild, tasty salt could be a snack for alcohol?


能登の塩製品 Salt Products

Soda pop, ice cream, cookies, bread and a variety of other items infused with Noto’s salty speciality!

Recently some original products that contain Noto’s salt are being watched (and enjoyed) with keen interest. Most products are something sweet goosed up with the salt. The local brand salts are featured for Soda pop, ice cream, cookies, and breads amongst others. The recent health boom and the other related interests have showcased organic ingredients, natural foods, and traditional preparation methods. Besides, most cities in the peninsula are struggling with underpopulation, as the younger generations have left their family villages for urban existences in big cities. Some hope to stop this trend with rural activism.
The traditional seasoning called Shio Koji, or “salty rice malt” which is huge in Japan recently. If you pick Noto’s Shio Koji for your souvenir, you will surely be respected as a person who has an intimate knowledge of Japan!

By SHIZUO
Published: January 6, 2014

SIGHTSEEING

Kanazawa Area
Kenroku-En Garden
Seisonkaku Villa
Kanazawa-Jo Castle
Hishi-Yagura/<br>Gojikken-Nagaya/<br>Hashizume-Mon Tsuzuki-Yagura Museum
Chaya-Gai<br>Geisha Districts
Nagamachi Buke-Yashiki-Ato (Previous Samurai District)
21st Century Museum of<br> Contemporary Art, <br>Kanazawa
Nomura-Ke<br>Samurai House
Yuwaku Onsen-Kyo Spa Village
Kanazawa Yuwaku Edo-Mura Museum
Following Matsuo Bashô’s steps in Ishikawa - 1/6 [Introduction]
Following Matsuo Bashô’s steps in Ishikawa - 2/6 [Kanazawa]
Light-Up Bus

Noto Area
Rokkosaki Cape
Mitsukejima Island
Day Trip from Kanazawa #01-Wakura-Onsen Spa Town Nanao City
Day Trip from Kanazawa #01-Ipponsugi Dohri Street Nanao City
Noto-Jima Glass Art Museum
Wajima Asaichi Morning Market
Sohjiji Soin Temple

Kaga Area
Komatsu Experience
Shirayama Hime-Jinja Shrine
Daishoji District
Kaga-Hashidate District
Higashitani Mountainous Area
Following Matsuo Bashô’s steps in Ishikawa - 3/6 [Komatsu City]
Following Matsuo Bashô’s steps in Ishikawa - 4/6 [Natadera Temple]
Following Matsuo Bashô’s steps in Ishikawa - 5/6 [Yamanaka Onsen Town]
Following Matsuo Bashô’s steps in Ishikawa - 6/6 [Daishoji District]
Rosanjin in Yamashiro Onsen Town

CUISINE

Hakusanroku Gibier: Local cuisine utilized wild game from the mountain area
Noto no Shio: Salt extracted from the sea
Jizake: Local sake in Hokuriku region
Buri: Yellowtail
Kaga-ryori:<br>The Traditional Local Food
Kanou-gani & Kobako snow crabs
Kaga Yasai:<br>Traditional Vegetables
Tempura
Sushi
Komatsu Udon Noodle

CULTURE

Event
Enyukai: Geisha Party
Geisha Performance with Dinner
Sunday Zazen Session


Custom
Shintoism

Arts and Crafts
Yamanaka Shikki: <br>Lacquer Ware made in Yamanaka
Wajima Nuri<br>Lacquerware
Wagasa<br>(Traditional Umbrella)
Kaga Temari<br>(Traditional Handball)
Kaga-Yubinuki<br>(Traditional Thimble)
Kutani-Yaki<br>Porcelain
Aochibu Blue Dot(br)Kutani Artist - Kingyoku Nakata
Kaga Hachiman Okiagari<br> Paper Doll
Kaga Kebari<br>Feather Bait
Stroll Kanazawa in Rental Kimono - 1/2 [Renting kimono]
Stroll Kanazawa in Rental Kimono - 2/2 [Strolling in Kimono]

EVENT

January
Dezomeshiki<br>Firefighters' Ceremony
Enyukai: Geisha Party

February
Setsubun-Sai Festival
Yukidaruma Matsuri<br>
Festival

April
Enyukai: Geisha Party
Sakura Viewing

May
Seihakusai Festival
Kutani Chawan Matsuri
(Outdoor Market)
Otabi Matsuri Festival
Okaeri Matsuri Festival

June
Hyakumangoku Matsuri<br>Festival

July
Enyukai: Geisha Party
Abarei Matsuri Festival
Yamashiro Daidengaku Dance Festival

August
Issaki Hoh-toh Matsuri Festival
Niwaka Matsuri Festival

November
Kanou-gani & Kobako snow crabs
Enyukai: Geisha Party

December
Enyukai: Geisha Party

All Year Round
Wajima Asaichi Morning Market
Sunday Zazen Session
Light-Up Bus

ACTIVITY

Shops
Stroll Kanazawa in Rental Kimono - 1/2 [Renting kimono]
Stroll Kanazawa in Rental Kimono - 2/2 [Strolling in Kimono]
Sunday Zazen-Session
Paragliding
Snowboarding
Pottery-Making

有料「体験施設紹介」
お申し込みフォーム

RESTAURANTS

Kanazawa Area
Noto Area
Kaga Area

有料「飲食店紹介」
お申し込みフォーム

SHOPPING

有料「物販店紹介」
お申し込みフォーム

INFORMATION

Kanazawa Smoking<br>Etiquette Guide
Special Interview<br>after the Tohoku Earthquake
Tourist Centers
About Ishikawa Prefecture
How to Get to Kanazawa
Access from Tokyo
Access from Osaka
Access from Nagoya
Access from Takayama
How to Get to the Noto Peninsula
About Us