EXPLORE KOMATSU | The official Komatsu City travel guide!

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Why Komatsu ?

Komatsu City sits upon the southwestern plains of Ishikawa prefecture. On one side lies the Sea of Japan, and on the other the sacred Mt. Hakusan. These natural resources contribute to the rich nature and have influenced the local history and culture. Symbolic of this culture are the living traditions of Kutani ceramics made from Komatsu stone, and children’s kabuki performed at yearly festivals.

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🚲Komatsu Share Cycle🚲 Have you had a chance

🚲Komatsu Share Cycle🚲

Have you had a chance to try out Komatsu's new share bikes?
You'll easily spot these shiny red fellas parked at ports all over the city! 😍
(but a more sure-fire way would be to download the “Docomo Bike Share” app 😉)

With these battery-powered e-bikes, you can easily set off on spontaneous outings, whenever the weather is good! 😙

Just some ideas, as pictured:
1) Lake Kiba Park (soon to be covered in 🌸)
2) Ataka Beach (best at 🌅)
3) The oldest 🍵 maker in Hokuriku @chooboya

All within reach of share cycle ports!
Check out our latest article on explorekomatsu.com (link in bio) for more info on the service and available ports.

🚲A New Way to Explore Komatsu🚲 Have you hea

🚲A New Way to Explore Komatsu🚲

Have you heard the bik news? 😝
Yes, Komatsu City has launched our very own bike sharing service! 🥳

With these new electric-powered bikes stationed all over the city, exploring Komatsu’s hidden gems from mountain to sea is now a breeze 😚

Not to mention the convenience of 24/7 availability, and digital payment & rental 📱

Check out our latest article on explorekomatsu.com to find out how to use the service, and take these cute photos!
*yes we clearly edited the bikes in 😆 but you can really rent and pose your bikes at all these spots! 🥰

Just some of the bike port locations, as pictured, are:
1) Lake Kiba Park
2) Hanibe Caves @hanibegankutsuin
3) Takigahara @takigaharafarm
4) Natadera Temple @natadera_temple
5) Ataka Beach @ataka_cafe

🥰Passion and Tradition at the Heart of Komatsu🥰

In @cheeserland's words, "If you come to Komatsu, you MUST come and meet the loveliest, most passionate people at @hokkokutoorimachi" 😌

Just a 5-min walk from Komatsu Station is the historical Hokkoku Toorimachi Street, where you'll find shops with centuries of legacy.
And encounter shop owners more than happy to be your personal guide and share their stories 🤗

Here's our recommendation on how to best soak in the history and passion of this street and its people:

1. Choboya Tea Shop @chooboya
Get some tea from the very first tea cultivator in the Hokuriku region, with a history of over 360 years and 12 generations!

2. Nakade Butchers @yakibuta_komatsu_ishikawa
Then snack on some karaage at this old-time butcher. A Komatsu-original version marinated with made-in-Komatsu barley miso!

3. If the situation allows, the shop owners might just unveil their neighborhood's massive festival float! If not, pop by the MIYOSSA Gallery nearby where floats of other neighborhoods are displayed.

4. Takimoto Gozaten @takimotogozaten
Step into the oldest shop of the street, established in 1480 🤯 as a goza shop (thin mats using the same reeds as tatami). Learn how Komatsu flourished as a major reed-producer, and remains the northern-most reed producer in Japan! And get a rare experience of coaster-making with tatami reeds, guided by 26th-gen owner Naoko.

5. Cafe Machiya Bunko @machiyabunko
Put your coaster to use right away! At this cosy recycle book cafe in a traditional machiya townhouse. Enjoy a cup of Choboya's tea, and a bowl of Nakade's chashu pork layered on rice. (if you're not a meat-eater, their handmade soba and vegetable tempura is also recommended)
-> Sat-only menu
And pick up some of the cafe's homemade jams, made using local fruits!

6. Ryusuke 25 @ryusuke25.komatsu
Finally, check-in to this inn transformed from a 90-year-old machiya, for a full experience of the town's living atmosphere. You get one of two floors to yourself, and a private bath in a preserved stone cellar!

*While this itinerary is not yet offered as a formal tour package, do DM us if interested and special arrangements may be possible!

If you want to experience the full depth of Komats

If you want to experience the full depth of Komatsu, staying a night (or 2, or 3!) is a must 😋

Here are just some recommendations from @cheeserland

From historical ryokans, to farmstays, to traditional guesthouses, or even AI-staffed hotels!

1)Hoshi Ryokan 法師 @houshiryokan
Established over 1300 years ago, this inn at the historical Awazu Onsen once made it into the Guinness Book of World Records, as the world's oldest hotel!
Choose from budget plans, to luxurious rooms with private baths and garden views.
You may even opt for the Enmeikaku palace-style wing, which once hosted members of the Imperial Family 😮

2)Ryusuke 25 龍助25 @ryusuke25.komatsu
A 90-year-old machiya townhouse, given new life as a private guest inn!
Each of the two floors are reserved for one group at a time, and hiding within an old stone cellar is a spacious wooden bath for your private use!

While incorporating tasteful modern touches, traditional elements such as the wood lattices and moss garden convey the living atmosphere of the past 🥰

Just 5 mins from Komatsu Stn!

3)Takigahara House / Craft & Stay @takigaharafarm
A rural hamlet in the mountains of Komatsu, where you can partake in an intimate farmstay with the tight-knitted local community!
Choose either:

①Takigahara House: a private inn, or
②Craft & Stay: a hostel with both bunk beds and private rooms.

Whichever you choose, it is a chance to connect with both nature and community. Join in the farming, try your hand at craft workshops, and of course savor meals prepared from the local harvests 😌

4)eau feu @eaufeu_official
Converted from a former school, an auberge in the countryside for those seeking the ultimate gastronomic indulgence.
With the kitchen headed by the youngest winner of Japan's biggest culinary competition for young chefs🤩, you'll be treated to meals combining local delicacies with cutting edge culinary innovation.

5)Henn na Hotel
An AI-staffed hotel right by the station, for convenience with a touch of wacky!
As a bonus, aerial views of the largest projection mapping along the west coast of Japan @komatsu_80pm can also be enjoyed from selected rooms!

Full video credits to @cheeserland❣️

🚗Japan's Biggest and Oldest Car Museum!?🚗 D

🚗Japan's Biggest and Oldest Car Museum!?🚗

Did you know that the very first car museum of Japan, established 1978, can be found right here in Komatsu City? 😮 The Motorcar Museum of Japan is also the biggest car museum in the country with over 500 cars displayed at any one time! 🤯

While it is certainly the place to find historical models of #MadeinJapan cars from the likes of Toyata, Nissan and Mazda, it is also where you will encounter many cars you would never see elsewhere 😉

One-of-its-kind cars specially-made for a historical occasion, or that once escorted royalty or celebrities, or even those that made a name for themselves appearing in anime
and films 🤩 (yes, including a #BondCar as pictured here outside the museum)

Whether you are a car lover, a history buff, or simply want to get that photo with a famous car at Japan's oldest and biggest car museum, there is something for everyone within the red-bricked walls of this sprawling museum 🤗

*this post was adapted from an article generously featured on the JNTO Japan’s Local Treasures page @visitjapanjp “Motorcar Museum of Japan”

🌈Colorful Ways to Enjoy Kutani Ware🌈 We've

🌈Colorful Ways to Enjoy Kutani Ware🌈

We've often gushed about our love for Kutani Ware, a colorful form of ceramic unique to our region 🥰

While an intricate craft with a long history, there are many ways you can appreciate Kutani in Komatsu even for the uninitiated! 🤗

1) Tour a Kutani kiln: the Miyayoshi Kutani Porcelain kiln provides intimate tours where you get to observe each step of the Kutani making process, right by the side of the artisans! Just seeing how they transform the clay into elegant pieces in seconds will blow your mind! 🤯

(*psst follow them @miyayoshi_kutani to get a free B-grade ware when you visit, as part of their environmental efforts)

2) Dine with Kutani: If you yearn to treat yourself to the special joy of dining with Kutani Ware but hesitate to buy a piece home, many restaurants such as Kajisuke @kajisuke_official provide that experience at reasonable prices! 😋

No better way to fully appreciate the craft, especially when it's adorned with fresh local delicacies 😌

3) Tour a Gallery: Just by Komatsu Station is the Nishikigama Gallery housed in the childhood home of Living Nation Treasure Tokuda Yasokichi!

Other than admiring the generational works of the Yasokichi family, unique experiences such as flower arrangement with the intricate pieces of the current Yasokichi may also be offered!
(inquire with us beforehand and special arrangements may be possible!)

👉Full video credits to @cheeserland 👈

🎭Kabuki Cosplay!?🎭 Kabuki has a reputation

🎭Kabuki Cosplay!?🎭

Kabuki has a reputation for being hard to appreciate, but here in the City of Kabuki there are fun ways to enjoy it without expert knowledge! 🤗

Like transforming into a kabuki character yourself, as @cheeserland demonstrates.

The MIYOSSA Hikiyama Gallery provides the full experience of kabuki makeup, costume, guidance on kabuki poses, and even musical accompaniment!! 🤩

All for just 500 yen! 🤯
And just a 5 min walk from Komatsu Station!

Email ✉️miyossa@city.komatsu.lg.jp✉️ at least a day before to book a session

Full video credits to @cheeserland

Giant Buddha With Only a Head Hiding in a corner

Giant Buddha With Only a Head

Hiding in a corner of the Komatsu countryside is the massive Buddha head of Hanibe Caves 😮 @hanibegankutsuin

You would think such a giant head would be easy to spot from miles away, yet it often stuns those in passing as it emerges abruptly from among the surrounding forests! 😆

If you’ve wondered why only the Buddha’s head exists, the story behind is actually simple yet endearing ❤️ Despite lack of resources in the post-war period, its sculptor was determined to complete even just the Buddha head as an expression of his earnest desire for world peace 🥺
But it is thanks to that “incompleteness” that we now get the rare experience of gazing at its calming expression up close 😌

You may also wonder about the name “Hanibe Caves”. In fact, the actual “cave” lies a short climb behind the Buddha head. A former stone quarry, that now serves as a gallery for the (smaller) works of the aforementioned sculptor 🎨
Crouch through the narrow entrance, and you'll find yourself in a fascinating world where Buddha statues stand alongside oni demons 👹 All inside the dark winding chambers, left just as it once was as a quarry.

While we’ve always raved about its beauty in the snow, the rare sight of a sakura-framed Buddha head is also one to Behold! 🌸 Why not pay a visit this spring? 🤗

*this post was adapted from an article generously featured on the JNTO Japan’s Local Treasures page @visitjapanjp “Giant Buddha Head of Hanibe Caves”

🏔️Snowy Hakusan from Lake Kiba🏔️ While

🏔️Snowy Hakusan from Lake Kiba🏔️

While this winter has been rather warm, you can always count on Mt. Hakusan for snow-white views! 😌

While you will chance upon viewpoints almost everywhere in Komatsu, the best has to be Lake Kiba Park, as any local will tell you 😋

Tip: Head to the park's west zone, and you may just get to capture as wonderful a shot as @foresight.vr has here 😍

Can't wait to enjoy this scene with the sakura in spring! 🤗🌸

🏡Stay & Dine in Style in a Former Countryside S

🏡Stay & Dine in Style in a Former Countryside School🏡

Looking to experience the Japanese countryside, but with the comforts of a luxury stay?

Introducing eau feu: a luxury inn reborn from a former school, hidden among the mountains in countryside Komatsu 🌄 @eaufeu_official

Here, you not only get to relax in spacious tastefully-designed rooms (photos 2-3), that creatively retain some elements of the classrooms 🏫, but also savor the masterpieces of a young culinary prodigy: @shota_itoi the youngest winner of Japan's biggest competition for young chefs, RED U-35 🥳

Guests are treated to a multicourse feast of his unique creations weaved from local ingredients, at the in-house restaurant that is also open to non-staying visitors (photos 4-5)

Not to mention soaking in eau feu's unique surroundings rich in both greenery and history.

On one side is the brewery of a legendary sake maestro: the Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute 🍶, where you can sample sake in style in the scenic tasting room (photo 6-7) @noguchi_naohiko_official

On the other side is a quarry that produced some of the most coveted stone in Japan: the golden Nikka stone, that makes up part of the National Diet Building 🏦.
The quarry is open to visitors venturing to admire the towering quarry wall up close in its golden glory, as well as the sculptural work of Scottish artist Julie Brook. An intriguing flight of stairs carved into the quarry rubble, that leads one ever closer to the wall while providing a panoramic view of the rural landscape (photos 8-9)

More details can be found in our latest article on explorekomatsu.com:
👉eau feu: Luxury Stay & Dine at an Old Countryside School👈

Come escape to eau feu and treat yourself to some nature therapy, gastronomic adventure, and rediscovery of rural Japan! 😌

⛩The First Shrine Visit of the Year⛩ How do y

⛩The First Shrine Visit of the Year⛩

How do you plan to welcome the new year?
You may know that in Japan, the first shrine or temple visit of the year (hatsumode) holds symbolic importance. It is when you get pray for a fresh start and good year ahead 🙏

Whether or not you intend to make those prayers, it's a chance to witness the local tradition up close and soak in the festive atmosphere 🥳 You may even get to join in the bell-ringing ritual 🔔 held throughout Japan, in the last hour of the year.

Here are just some of our suggested spots for your hatsumode visit in Komatsu!

1) Natadera Temple (photos 1-4)
Yes, this ancient mountain temple we are always raving about is open for new year visits too.

In fact, they will be specially opened right from midnight on New Year's Day! Your one chance to see the temple at night 🤩
(Only the central worship pavilion near the entrance will be accessible 12:00AM - 8:30AM, free of charge)

What's more, the rest of the temple grounds will remain free of charge, 8:30AM - 5PM on 1st and 2nd Jan.

2) Ataka Sumiyoshi Shrine (photos 5-6)
If you'd like to head to sea instead, then this shrine by the coast is the one for you 🏝 It's one of Komatsu's most significant sacred and historical sites, located where a famous legend-turned-kabuki play took place (🔍 search "Kanjincho").

A side perk is getting to watch the wild winter waves of the Sea of Japan 🌊, an invigorating way to start the new year 💪

3) Komatsu Tenmangu Shrine (photos 7-8)
If both mountain and sea are a little far out, you can instead head to this shrine along the Kakehashi River (~25 mins walk from Komatsu Stn).

Hiding on an island carved into the riverbank, it is a tranquil sanctuary exuding an air of mystery 😌 It is expecially magical in the snow, and also known as a plum blossom spot 🌸 If you're lucky you might just be able to catch plum blossoms in the snow in late Feb!

4) Saishoji Temple 西照寺 (photos 9-10)
Another accessible option just a 17 min walk from Komatsu Stn!
Saishoji is not just one of the temples where you can partake in the new year bell-ringing, but also a mini temple concert starting a little before midnight 🎵

🍡New Year's Fortune-telling the Sweet Komatsu W

🍡New Year's Fortune-telling the Sweet Komatsu Way🍡
You may know of omikuji, fortune-telling slips that you can get at temples and shrines, but did you know that here in Komatsu, you can also tell your fortune using sweets!? 😮

Introducing Tsuji-ura 🥠, lit. "Crossroad Fortune-Telling", a New Year wagashi sweet unique to the Ishikawa region! 🥳

Tsuji-ura originated from an olden form of fortune-telling that took place at busy crossroads, in which the overheard conversations of passing people were used for divination. But only in Ishikawa would this turn into cute crossroad-shaped wagashi sweets that tell your New Year fortune! 😋

You'll easily find these colorful folded sweets in most wagashi shops in Komatsu around this period, usually colored in pink, yellow and green. Pictured are those from @yukimatsu_7daime (photo 1) and @tokuda_seikado (photo 2).

Tsuji-ura fortune-telling is a little more complex than your usual omikuji. First, pick three pieces, and unfold them to retrieve the tiny slips of paper inside. String the three mysterious phrases together, and try to decipher the divine message in your constructed sentence! 🤔 (see photo 3 for reference)

Even if the message is ultimately too cryptic for your comprehension, it's a fun way to welcome the new year with friends and family, and experience a unique local tradition 🤗 (and for those learning the language, to pick up some interesting Japanese expressions 😆) Not to mention how pretty these dainty edible envelopes are to look at 😍

*We had the privilege of taking a peek at the production process at @nagaikesaikadou during the @gemba_komatsu open factory festival in November (swipe for photos and videos) and it really requires such delicate handiwork! 👏

Here's to a sweet new year! 🥰

🏡Cafe, Bakery & Stay in the Woods by the River🏡

Hidden within a cedar grove by the river, in the Komatsu countryside, is one of our favorite nature sanctuaries, Seseragi-no-Mori (lit. "forest where the river flows") 🏞
We love this place so much that we've dedicated an entire article to it on ❣️explorekomatsu.com❣️

We've often gushed about their 🌱vegetarian cafe☕️, @la_petite_porte where nourishing meals like vegetable curry 🍛 or pasta 🍝, and delicate sweet treats 🍰 can be enjoyed alongside views of the adjacent river 😌 (photos 1-3)

But what you may not know of yet is their newly-opened 🍞vegan bakery🥐 @morrisbakery_vegan
From fluffy focaccia topped with vegetables of the season, to rolls filled with soy-based cream, or toasty muffins and scones, you'll be sure to find something that piques your curiosity and appetite 🤤 Enjoy them by the window while gazing at grazing goats in the woods 🐐, or out on the garden terrace! (photos 8-9)

An even longer kept secret however, is the 🏠guest inn🏠 next door, Etoile et fees.
A quaint country-style cottage in the woods that looks like something out of a fairy tale 🧚‍♀️
Where you can gaze up at the starry night sky 🌠, and take a warm soak in an outdoor bathtub 🛀 to the background music of chirping birds 🐦 and trickling river💦! (photos 4-6)

Completing this green therapy are the nourishing vegetarian meals served, where local ingredients are arranged into creative dishes such as soy hamburg 🍔 or vegetable sushi 🍣 (photo 7)

If you're looking for somewhere warm and cosy to spend your winter, check out our latest article on 🔎explorekomatsu.com🔎 and find your way to this hidden gem!

❄️Little Local Finds: Winter Wonderlands❄️

❄️Little Local Finds: Winter Wonderlands❄️

Dull and chilly may be the image winter conjures up for many of us 🥶
But for those willing to brave the cold and snow, it is actually a season with much worthy sights and tastes of its own! ☃️

From the spiritual sites of Natadera Temple @natadera_temple and Hanibe Caves @hanibegankutsuin in the mountains, to nearby nature sanctuaries such as Rojo Park, there are plenty of secret winter spots around Komatsu City that will whisk you into a magical white wonderland of your own 😌

If hunting blindly for these hidden sites in the snow is daunting, just check out our latest article on 👉explorekomatsu.com👈 for a guide to our recommended finds!
Including local winter treats to warm your tummy and soul after your adventures (think fried crab 🦀 duck noodles 🍜 and freshly-brewed sake 🍶)

Let us know in the comments if you have other winter gems to share, and DM us with any questions!

Here’s to a wonderful winter! 🤗