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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🚲 Share Cycle By the Sea 🚲 A look back at t

🚲 Share Cycle By the Sea 🚲

A look back at the cycling outing we had last weekend! 🥳
With the Komatsu Share Cycle of course @komatsusc 😉

With these e-bikes, cycling to the sea was a breeze 🌬🏖

We introduced a secret bike path starting from the Ataka-no-seki seaside, running through a pine forest, and opening up to a breathtaking coastal bike path that continues all the way to Kaga City! 😮
(~45mins one-way from Komatsu Station to Fureai Kenko Park, at a leisure pace)

Our cycling companions, of all ages and nationalities, were delighted to learn of this hidden gem and were already thinking about trying it again 😙

Won't you give it a try too? 🤗
Feel free to,
-DM us for precise directions
-Tap our "Share Cycle" highlight for a walkthrough of our various cycles
-Check our share cycle article on explorekomatsu.com for details on using the bikes and recommended routes!
(link in bio)

*Psst do take lots of pics on your cycles and enter them for the Komatsu Photo Campaign! (see pinned post) 😉

❤️ A Lovely May ❤️ Here's a look back at

❤️ A Lovely May ❤️

Here's a look back at all the seasonal sights we enjoyed in our favorite month! 🥰

While sakura tends to take the spotlight in spring,
we highly encourage coming to see all the other flowers that come after as well 💐
Especially since you can enjoy them alongside the Otabi Festival! 🥳

Hope this post can serve as useful reference when you plan your visit next May 😉

Early-Mid May:
Shaga irises (Yusenji Copper Mine Memorial Park @yusenjidozanato)
Wisteria (Rojo Park Komatsu)

Mid-May:
Otabi Festival

Mid-Late May:
Roses (Komatsu Sports Park)

Read more in our article here:
https://www.explorekomatsu.com/news/memoirs-of-may/

*these are just an example of photos you may post for the Komatsu Photo Campaign 😉 (see pinned post)

📸Komatsu Photo Campaign📸 Calling out to all

📸Komatsu Photo Campaign📸

Calling out to all international friends in Japan❣️
Interested to help share the undiscovered charms of our little city, in return for the chance of winning local goods? 🥳
(think local crafts, food, and even Pompompurin collaboration goods⁉️)

Then join in our very first Insta campaign, gathering photos of your favorite scenes and things in Komatsu City! 🤗

The theme is simple:
❤️Charms of Komatsu❤️

It can be scenery, food, shops, festivals, the arts… even an everyday scene that expresses something special about this city to you 🥰
We want to see the beauty of this city through your eyes! 🤩

❗️Campaign Overview❗️
When: 26 May (Fri) – 27 Aug (Sun) 2023
Who: Anyone with an address in Japan, and public Insta account
What: Instagram posts fitting the theme “Charms of Komatsu”

📱How to Participate📱
1. Follow @explorekomatsu on Instagram
2. Make sure your own Instagram account is public!
3. Within the campaign period (26 May-27 Aug), post a photo taken in Komatsu City fitting the theme “Charms of Komatsu”
- Photos may be taken with any kind of device.
- You may post photos taken in the past!
- Multiple posts are also welcome.
4. Include the hashtags #KomatsuPhotoCampaign #KomatsuCity #explorekomatsu #YourHomeCountry (in captions or comments)

🎁Lucky Draw🎁
- Stand the chance to win Komatsu goods such as craft ware, gourmet treats, and even Komatsu-exclusive Pompompurin collab goods!
(items shown in photo ② are just a sample and subject to changes)
- Up to 5 winners will be chosen by lottery
(Each post counts as one entry for the lucky draw. So the more you post the higher your chances!)
- Winners will be contacted via Insta DM after the campaign period.
- You will be asked to provide an address in Japan for us to send the prizes.

Check our homepage (link in bio) for more details:
https://tinyurl.com/KomatsuPhotoCampaign2023

🌹Komatsu Rose Festival🌹 We've introduced th

🌹Komatsu Rose Festival🌹

We've introduced the fields of early summer, but do you know about the flowers too?

Just head to the Komatsu Sports Park and you'll find out! 😉

Where you can enjoy a rainbow of almost 1400 roses, in bloom until the end of May 😍
And where you'll also find a rosy symbol of our almost 50-year-long friendship with sister city Vilvoorde,
the "V" Road Friendship Rose Garden 🥰

The garden is open to public 24/7 and free of charge, but for a little more excitement come this Sat (27 May), 10AM - 2PM 🥳
When there will be a mini bazaar (incl. food 🛻), and garden clean-up! 🧹 (you receive a 🌹 seedling in return)

Come smell the roses❣️

💛Golden Fields of Summer💛 What signals the

💛Golden Fields of Summer💛

What signals the start of summer? ☀️
The intensifying glow of the sun for sure,
but here in Komatsu we also look forward to the glow of golden barley! 🌾

Komatsu is one of the top producers of barley in Hokuriku, which can be savored in the form of barley tea 🍵, beer🍺, or even as a rice alternative 🍚
but you can already savor the breathtaking views of rolling fields of golden barley,
right now as they approach harvest season! 🤗

Just stray off any side paths and you'll easily encounter a sea of gold! 😌
Just make sure to do it soon, before they all get harvested in early June.
(swipe to follow the sunrise 🌅)

*Feel free to DM us for specific spots 🙌

❣Otabi Festival, Thank You❣ This year's Otabi

❣Otabi Festival, Thank You❣

This year's Otabi Festival did not go exactly as planned (☔️ is an inevitable Ishikawa experience), but we are thankful for the precious experience it gave us 🙏

One of witnessing local spirit triumph and shine through (the rain clouds 🌦)!

The air was still filled with the dizzying aroma of food stalls 🤤 the processions marched on 🥳 the young actresses rocked the stage and touched the crowds 🥰 and most importantly, the city was still alive with the passion and warmth of people 😌

Thank you everyone for joining in this precious local tradition and being part of the energy and joy! 🤗
We're so excited to bring to you much more Komatsu-unique experiences and connections this year 🙌💖

The Japan Children's Kabuki Festival in Komatsu la

The Japan Children's Kabuki Festival in Komatsu last week... 🤩

Got us hyped for Otabi Festival this Saturday!!! 🥳

🏮Countdown to Otabi Festival🏮 🗓️13 May

🏮Countdown to Otabi Festival🏮

🗓️13 May 2023 (Sat)🗓️

Just two more weeks to Komatsu City's biggest festival, Otabi Matsuri! 🥳
Where you get to witness the rare sight of all-girls kabuki plays staged upon festival floats 🥰
As well as the spectacular illumination of these special floats known as hikiyama 🤩

The main events for this year will be right in front of Komatsu Station:

1) Hikiyama Line Up
6:30 – 9:00 PM
The towering hikiyama floats, each owned by a neighborhood of Komatsu, will be assembled and illuminated at night! ✨

2) Children’s Kabuki Plays
Little actresses from two of Komatsu’s neighborhoods will be performing kabuki upon the hikiyama floats! 🥰
There will be three sessions:
①3:00-3:45 PM, ②7:00-7:45 PM, ③8:00-8:50 PM
(the same play will be staged for ①&②)

More details can be found in our latest article on the Explore Komatsu homepage!
(link in bio)
Can’t wait to see you all there 🤗

🪻Sakura on the Lawn🪻 After the sakura petal

🪻Sakura on the Lawn🪻

After the sakura petals have fallen, we turn our focus to the ground...
For the shibazakura!
We certainly get why they're termed "lawn sakura" in Japanese, with the way their dainty petals carpet the ground 😌

And in Komatsu, the go-to shibazakura spot has to be 🌸Road Park Nakaumi no Sato🌸 where the local community has lovingly nurtured a whole hillside of over 3600 shibazakura in a mosaic of pinks, whites and purples❣️

To provide some floral respite while you take a break from your drive! 🤗 (and on a good day, priceless backdrop views of snow-capped Hakusan 🏔️😍)

*A little local tidbit: just across the road is a little shop called Kinoko no Sato, where you can enjoy soft serve in unique flavors such as amazake yogurt or kinako kurogoma🍦🤤

*Photos taken 9-10 Apr, expected to last until next week!

🎉Experience Otabi Festival🎉 📅13 May 2023

🎉Experience Otabi Festival🎉
📅13 May 2023 (Sat)📅

Komatsu City's biggest festival, Otabi Matsuri is coming in just a month! 🥳
We're so eager we're extending an advanced invitation to some exciting activities we have planned 🤗

① English Tours
As with last year, we will be offering free English tours around the festival grounds, led by local guides!

Time: 1:30 - 3:00 PM

*You may also opt to join the
① Float procession-viewing (1:00 - 1:30 PM)
② Girl's Kabuki play-viewing (3:00 - 3:45 PM)

Sign-up form: https://tinyurl.com/OtabiFestival2023
(limited spots!)

② Float-pulling Experience
After the tour and play-watching, become part of the festival yourself by helping to pull the festival floats to the assembly point for the float line-up at night!

Time: 17:30~18:30
*Just in time to catch the float illuminations and watch the night sessions of kabuki plays

Sign-up: https://tinyurl.com/floatpulling2023 (by 26 Apr)
*Participants will be selected by lottery in the event of overwhelming interest

To find out more about the festival itself, check out our latest article on 🔎explorekomatsu.com

🌸Sakura Review ④: Kasukami Shrine🌸 For th

🌸Sakura Review ④: Kasukami Shrine🌸

For the last of this season's sakura reviews, we shine the light on a little shrine.
The Kasukami Shrine In the rural area of Karumi-machi, one of Komatsu's best-kept secrets! 🤗

The shrine lies hidden amidst a maze of residential streets,
but once you come before it, you'll know it's worth the hunt 😌

An enchanting sakura-shrouded gate leads you down a serene stone path, where you can soak in a shower of softly-falling petals.
The rare chance to enjoy a sakura haven in serenity, all to yourself❣️

And yes, that "stairway to heaven" at the back may be a little daunting, but we promise it is worth the climb too 😁
(scroll for evidence of the rewarding views)

This hidden paradise lies just a little out of town,
🚗15 mins by car or 40 mins by Komatsu Share Cycle from Komatsu Station!🚲

🌸Sakura Review ③: Lake Kiba Park🌸 Our oth

🌸Sakura Review ③: Lake Kiba Park🌸

Our other favorite local park also happens to have the perfect view of Mt. Hakusan! 🏔️😍

With the snow white peak peeking out amidst the sakura tunnels, and the mosaic of white and pink glimmering from the lake's surface this is really the best time and place to appreciate our guardian mountain 😌

Scroll to the end for a virtual tour through the sakura tunnel! 🥰

*Psst while the petals are starting to fall, the party goes on:

Sakura illumination will carry on every night 18:30-21:00 until 12 Apr 🏮and a sakura market is happening this weekend (8-9 Apr 10:00-16:00) 🎪 where you'll find food trucks, pop-up shops and fun workshops! 🥳

All at Lake Kiba Central Zone @farmersmarket.kibagata

🚗 10 mins by car, or 30 mins by Komatsu Share Cycle from Komatsu Station! 🚲

📸: @simple.visual.pleasures

🌸Sakura Review ②: Junigataki Falls🌸 A fal

🌸Sakura Review ②: Junigataki Falls🌸

A falls that never bores!
It's so much fun finding all sorts of ways to frame it with the sakura 😋

15 mins by car or 1h with the Komatsu Share Bikes from Komatsu Station!

*About 80% bloomed as of Apr 1st

🌸Sakura Review ①: Rojo Park🌸 The first of

🌸Sakura Review ①: Rojo Park🌸

The first of this year's cherry blossom report goes to our favorite little park next door! 🤗

Just a 15 min walk from Komatsu Station, Rojo Park is a locally-beloved spot for hanami hangouts.

It is heartwarming to see the lively atmosphere return, along with the bonbori lantern light-up and yatai stalls! 🥰
(previously on hiatus due to COVID)

We think nothing encapsulates the hanami experience more than picnicking under the sakura in the warm glow of the lanterns, with beloved family and friends 😌

The light-up ends this Sunday, so do catch it soon if you haven't!
(until 9PM every night)

*and if we haven't yet mentioned our little secret, climb to the rooftop of the adjacent Komatsu Public Hall for a bird's-eye-view of the park! 😉

🌸Best of Komatsu Sakura: A Preview🌸 Have yo

🌸Best of Komatsu Sakura: A Preview🌸

Have you heard the floral-cast? Yes, sakura season is springing upon us! 🥳
This year too, we’ve updated a compilation of our favorite cherry blossom picks from past years 🤗
And of course, all the yummy treats that must be savored along with the flowers 😋

Highlights include:
-Junigataki Falls (pic 1)
-Lake Kiba Park (pic 2-4)
-Rojo Park (pic 5-6)
-Mari-chan's sakura taiyaki (pic 7)

Check out our latest article on the Explore Komatsu page: "Best of Komatsu Sakura: A Preview", so you can catch the blossoms when they spring (or fall) 😙 (link in bio)