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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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! 🤗

🦀 Seafood Feasts at Michelin-starred Matsuya by

🦀 Seafood Feasts at Michelin-starred Matsuya by the Sea 🐟

Sitting along the coast in Komatsu is the 100-year-old ryotei restaurant, Matsuya まつ家

Where you can not only delight your taste buds with kaiseki course meals of freshly-caught local seafood, but also feast your eyes on the exquisite local crafts used. And on window views of sunset over crashing waves 🌅

Since the ingredients depend on the catch of the day, you'll always be in for a fresh surprise. But we recommend paying a visit soon for winter-exclusive Ishikawa snow crabs! 🦀 Prepared at Matsuya the Komatsu way: stuffed in crab shells and deep fried till crisp! 🤤 (a local delicacy known as kora-age)

While making your way there, do also take the time to stroll down the surrounding streets of the Japan Heritage site of Ataka 🏘️The charming wooden houses of past fishermen and merchants will take you back to the sleepy town's old days as a bustling port! ⚓

For such a special experience, we certainly approve of the two stars awarded to Matsuya in the Michelin Guide Hokuriku 2021 🌟🌟

Check out Matsuya’s English page to learn more, and consider booking yourself a treat:
https://www.matsu-ya.jp/en/

*this post was adapted from an article generously featured on the JNTO Japan’s Local Treasures page @visitjapanjp
🔍Seafood Feasts at Michelin-starred Matsuya🔍

❗️KUTANism 2022 (Oct 15 - Dec 11)❗️ A cele

❗️KUTANism 2022 (Oct 15 - Dec 11)❗️
A celebration of Kutani Ware in Komatsu & Nomi City.

Have you been enjoying the colorful array of experiences offered at this year's KUTANism? 🤗 @kutanism_official
(see previous post on Oct 14)

The best way to learn about a craft is to feel it for yourself, and a few upcoming workshops offer just such an opportunity! 🤩

① Playing with KUTANI SEAL (26 Nov)
Design your own unique Kutani Ware using stickers made with Kutani paint!
10AM - 11.30AM / 1.30PM - 3PM
Venue: KAM (The Kutani porcelain Art Museum)
Fee: 3000 yen (excl. shipping fees)
*for children up to 18 years old, or parent and child pairs

② Mold a Maneki-neko Fortune Cat (27 Nov)
Make your own maneki-neko using a Kutani mold!
10AM - 11.30AM / 1.30PM - 3PM
Venue: CERABO KUTANI @kutani_ceramic_lab
Fee: 3000 yen (excl. shipping fees)
*for children between junior to senior high school, or parent and child pairs

Access the respective articles posted on the "NEWS" page on kutanism.com to register for these experiences!
*available only in Japanese, DM us if you need help navigating the page!

❗️GEMBA Open Factory Event 2022 (3-6 Nov)❗️

The second edition of Komatsu's very own open factory festival, GEMBA, kicks off tomorrow! 🥳 @gemba_komatsu
(see previous post on 17 Oct)

While registration has been closed for programs requiring reservation, feel free to hop around the participating studios, factories and shops that will open their doors to the public across the festival period 🚶‍♀️
(Check the GEMBA English page at
👉https://gemba-project.jp/gemba-program/en/👈
and scroll to the bottom for a timetable of places open for touring without reservation)

Swipe for a little sneak peek of the exciting hidden world of creation that you will get to explore over the next few days! We hope it gets you excited as we are 🤗
(Pottery studios, sake breweries, stone quarries, fabric factories, gallery cafes, sweet shops, high-tech farms etc etc 😍)

Hope to see you all around❣️

🍁Best of Autumn in Komatsu: A Preview🍁 We'v

🍁Best of Autumn in Komatsu: A Preview🍁

We've been feeling especially restless recently… 😤
For our favorite time of the year: when the rich greenery here turns to fiery reds❣️

If you've been waiting as eagerly as us, but aren't sure where Komatsu's autumn gems slumber, we've created a little guide for you, from our autumn adventures over the last few years! 😉

Featured are
@natadera_temple
@yunokuninomori
Hiyo Moss Garden
Aramata Gorge

Komatsu's autumn colors are expected to peak in early November, so we hope this guide can help you put the upcoming weekends to good use, and chase the colors before they fall 😋

Just check out our latest article on 👉explorekomatsu.com👈

As always, DM us with any questions and do share if you have other autumn spots in Komatsu to recommend 🤗

*photos in this post are from previous years

🌸The Biggest Cosmos Field in Ishikawa🌸 Koma

🌸The Biggest Cosmos Field in Ishikawa🌸

Komatsu's Tsubakura-machi may be a small neighborhood, but they have big dreams: To nurture the largest cosmos field in Ishikawa! 🥰

And they've succeeded. A local project started three years ago to bring new life to abandoned farm land, it has now grown into an over 12000 square meter plot, with almost a million seeds planted this year! 😍

What this little community has achieved is not just a record, however.
They've also brought so much joy to us and many others.
Getting lost amidst the sea of swaying pink and whites is the most magical and healing experience 😌
What's more, visitors are encouraged to bring home their own bouquet, with scissors provided on site! 💐

The cosmos are expected to stay in bloom until the end of October, but catch them as soon as possible before they find new homes 😝
(Photos taken 15 Oct, about half of the field was still in peak bloom!)

📍Search "Tsubakura Cosmos Field" on google maps, or DM us for the pin!

GEMBA Open Factory Event 2022 (3-6 Nov) @gemba_kom

GEMBA Open Factory Event 2022 (3-6 Nov) @gemba_komatsu

Starting with world-famous machine maker KOMATSU LTD., Komatsu has been a hub of creation where a vibrant range of creative industries, from traditional crafts to cutting-edge technologies, undergo constant evolution.

If you've often wondered about the people and processes behind such works of wonder, now's your chance to take a peek behind those usually closed doors, into the very sites of production!

Motivated by the desires of our creators themselves, to share the stories behind their creations with the people who would use them, GEMBA is Komatsu's very own open factory event where the public can take part in tours and workshops personally hosted by the creators.

This year, it will be held across four days from 3rd to 6th Nov (Thu - Sun), and the venues include high-tech farms, Kutani ceramic studios, sake breweries, wagashi sweet shops, fabric factories, and many many more! Also look out for cross-industry tie-ups such as sake or tea tasting sessions using Kutani ware, specially offered only during GEMBA!

Got you curious? Sounds like the perfect way to spend the long weekend? Spaces for tours and workshops are limited, so check out the official GEMBA page @https://gemba-project.jp/ and book your choice experience(s) as soon as possible!
(English page is also available but still under update)

As always, feel free to DM us if you require assistance in English!

KUTANism, a joint celebration of the vibrant craft

KUTANism, a joint celebration of the vibrant craft of Kutani ceramics by the Kutani-producing cities of Komatsu & Nomi, is happening again this year from 15 Oct to 11 Dec 2022! @kutanism_official

On top of the two exhibitions held in Komatsu and Nomi respectively, immerse yourself in a full sensory experience of the colourful world of Kutani, through workshops and food events! (swipe for more details and check for updates on kutanism.com OR explorekomatsu.com)

See the Exhibitions:
① NEXT Kutani vol. IV: Best selection of next-generation Kutani works
15 Oct - 11 Dec @ KAM, The Kutani porcelain Art Museum (Nomi)
② The Tools of Kutani
15 Oct - 11 Dec @ CERABO KUTANI @kutani_ceramic_lab (Komatsu)

Experience the Craft:
① Tea Session
Enjoy matcha in Kutani tea bowls crafted by people with disabilities
20 Nov (Sun) @ SARAI Wellness House (Nomi)
② Playing with KUTANI SEAL
Design your own Kutani ware with stickers made from Kutani paint
26 Nov (Sat) @ KAM
③ Mold a Maniki-neko
Shape your own maneki-neko fortune cat using Kutani mold-pressing techniques!
27 Nov (Sun) @ CERABO KUTANI

Explore the Area:
① Exhibition + Workshop Bundle Packages
② Model Course Recs by @kaaaana_stagram
③ Stamp Rally
Collect stamps at the exhibitions and nearby eateries and claim Kutani presents!

Savor:
① Kutani Food Street
Local street food on Kutani-design paper plates
15/16 Oct @ KAM
② KUTANI BASE @kutani_base
Adorn your Kutani plate with an array of local sweets
22/23 Oct @ CERABO KUTANI