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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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What marks the start of autumn? (Hint: There are t

What marks the start of autumn?
(Hint: There are two answers hidden in this lovely shot by @foresight.vr )
Yes, golden rice fields ripe for harvesting are one 🌾 But look up and you'll also notice a sky full of fascinating "fish scale clouds" (uroko gumo)☁️🐟, as they are adorably referred to in Japanese! 😋

We sure are excited for all the freshly harvested rice and beautiful fall scenery to come 😌

💖Launching Hope & Love into the Blooming Night

💖Launching Hope & Love into the Blooming Night Sky💖

That was the theme of the surprise fireworks launched by the Komatsu Seiun Lions Club, at Lake Kiba last Saturday 🎆
Amidst the pandemic, they wish to continue inspiring the children of Komatsu to widen their perspectives and imagine a bigger world out there, and this spectacular gift was a symbol of that 🥰

@gakuoo1 certainly captured those sentiments perfectly in this shot! 😍

Thank you for giving all of us renewed hope and excitement❣️
(Access the replay on youtube
https://youtu.be/VdxxRPYwxXM?t=10560
OR search 青雲花火大会in木場潟2021)

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! 🎉 @kutanism_official

This year as well, we deliver the colorful world of Kutani right to your desktop (or palm!): with an online exhibition! 🤩

Simply access kutanism.com/en/ ➡️ Click "EXHIBITION" in the top menu ➡️ Scroll down and click on the posters (gray & pink) to enter each of the two galleries! Both galleries feature the latest works from both veteran & up-and-coming artisans, so do take your time to tour them both!

Just as how the craft of Kutani ceramics is ever-evolving, we strive to find novel ways of sharing its charms with the world 🌍 Even though there's nothing like seeing these works of wonder in person, we hope this virtual exhibit inspires you to visit
in the near future and perhaps support our budding artisans with a purchase 🤗

The red sea of autumn 🍂 Leaves aren't the only

The red sea of autumn 🍂

Leaves aren't the only things to turn red in autumn 😮
Before that, river banks are swept by a sea of red...spider lilies! 😍

Extra reason to enjoy a nice morning stroll along the Kakehashi River 🤗
(psst locals recommend walking the whole stretch, but if you're short on time the best spot is the patch near Handeda-machi! DM us for exact location)

Thank you @floral_komatsu for the tip off❣️

🌸The cosmos at the end of the double rainbow🌈🌈

This lovely shot by @gakuoo1 is getting us excited for cosmos season 😍
We recommend this spot at Tsubakura-machi, a local effort at creating the prefecture's largest cosmos field❣️

Right next to the exit from Awazu IC (Tsubakura Higashi junction)
This p(l)ot of pink and white is a little hard to find so DM us for directions! 😉

If festivals are not your thing, here's something

If festivals are not your thing, here's something more chill to do near Ataka: Yoga by (or in!) the sea! 🌅🧘‍♂️

Nothing is more zen than yoga to the backdrop of sunset 😌

Now we really feel like joining one of @lys.yoga classes 😆 Thanks for sharing with us such soothing scenes!

📸: @lys.yoga

A serene end to the 3-day Ataka Festival! (see pre

A serene end to the 3-day Ataka Festival! (see previous post)

But the Ataka lighthouse shines on as it has for the past 30 years,
a beacon for the local residents and voyagers.

Hope to celebrate Ataka Matsuri with you all as well next year!
(keep 7~9 Sept in your calendars)

@kantaro0124 captures the mood perfectly as always 🤗

The local spirit burns on at the Ataka Festival! 🔥

The Ataka Matsuri (7-9 Sept) began as a local prayer for abundant catch and safe voyage, and continues today as a celebration of Ataka's romantic past as a flourishing port 🌊

This year is no exception, albeit on a more intimate scale with small performances around the neighborhood for the local folk.
But smaller certainly doesn't mean weaker, as we certainly felt the warm passion of the locals more keenly than ever 💪🥰

It is times like this that makes us all the more grateful to witness moments of community bonding 😌

Swipe to the end to catch some lively action! 🤩

Thank you for 65 years of memories, Sei-chan❣️

Thank you for 65 years of memories, Sei-chan❣️

It's been a week since 90-year-old Sei-chan closed the doors to his 65-year-old shop 🥺 The pioneer of Komatsu's locally beloved dish, shio yakisoba, and the first to bring gyoza to the Hokuriku region 🤯

We are sad but touched by the outpouring of love, as fans from near and afar rushed down to give their thanks and savor Sei-chan's dishes overflowing with both fragrance and passion 😌

It may be the end of his business, but his legacy lives on through the many shio yakisoba successors he's inspired, including younger brother Katchan! 🤗
So do visit them for the authentic Komatsu taste when you get the chance!
(we've compiled a list @explorekomatsu.com/gourmet/shio-yakisoba/)

Thank you @rnrt_takeshi for these lovely captures!

No better way to send off summer than with some ch

No better way to send off summer than with some cheery sunflowers! 🌻
We can't wait to see how this local project, turning unused plots into sunflower fields, further evolves next year 🤗 @ja_komatsushi
Keep Seiryo-machi's Himawari no Oka (aka Sunflower Hills💛) on your to-visit list for next August! 😉

After the storm, comes the sun! 🌞 In the case o

After the storm, comes the sun! 🌞
In the case of Seiryo-machi, an idyllic hamlet tucked within Komatsu's mountains, it's a whole field of sunflowers 🌻
It's no showy flower park, but has a humble backstory: a local initiative to give new life to abandoned farm plots.
We think there's nothing more suited to the task than cheery sunflowers! 🥰

This hidden plot of gold is not the easiest to find, but you can search ひまわりの丘 on google maps or DM us for the location!

Expected to peak this week (usually early to mid-Aug), but even if you can't catch it this time, we hope this dreamy cinematic by @foresight.vr conveys the joy our sunny friends bring 🤗

Cool down under a shower of stars! 🌟 At Akaze

Cool down under a shower of stars! 🌟

At Akaze Dam 赤瀬ダム, just 20 mins by car from Komatsu's city center. Where on a lucky day, you may catch the Milky Way with the naked eye! 🌌
(depending on cloud conditions and lunar calendar)

We feel refreshed just looking at this amazing shot by @kantaro0124 😍

How can you enjoy summer when it's so hot? 🥵 Ou

How can you enjoy summer when it's so hot? 🥵
Our advice: Wait for sunset! 🌅
When you can admire soft rays and breathe cool air 😌

Another advice:
Ataka Beach @ataka_cafe & Fureai Kenko Park (ふれあい健康広場)
are particularly spectacular sunset spots, with vast unobstructed views.
You'll know it's a promising day if you see all the locals gathered there 😉

Thanks to our neighbor @visit_kaga_area for the visit and these amazing photos 🤗

Puzzled by the snaking queues at every possible wa

Puzzled by the snaking queues at every possible wagashi shop today? 😮
That's because it's a special day in Ishikawa: Himuro Manju Day! 🤗

Himuro stands for "ice houses" used to store ice, back when fridges did not exist ❄️
Ice were precious goods then, and the lord of the Kaga Domain (as Ishikawa was known) would carry them to the Edo capital on 1 July every year, as an offering to the shogun ruler.
In turn, the townsfolk would make these steamed sake buns called Himuro Manju and offer them at shrines to pray for the safe delivery of the ice 🙏And of course eat them, since they are thought to ward off illness.

The eating part is pretty much the only aspect still practised, but it remains a great source of excitement for all.
They traditionally come in green, pink and white, and are filled with red bean paste, but have gotten more colorful in recent years, some even coming with sweet potato, matcha or chestnut fillings! 🤤

Almost every wagashi shop in Ishikawa offer their own versions, so we recommend having a tasting party with friends and family! 🥳 Here are just some of our Komatsu favorites from ①@tokuda_seikado ②@okashidokoro_marunishi & ③④@kouda__futaba

We know what we're manjing on later! 😋

Need some motivation to keep up your runs in this

Need some motivation to keep up your runs in this heat? The sight of these irises at Lake Kiba will do just the trick! 😋

Whether you choose to do the full 6.4km loop or cut straight to the irises at the park's south zone, remember to stay hydrated 🙌