EXPLORE KOMATSU

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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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Mountain Road to Recovery (Part 1) A serene and s

Mountain Road to Recovery (Part 1)

A serene and scenic road stretches from our city center, crossing the Kakehashi River all the way up to the Nakanotoge mountain pass ⛰️

Passing through places filled with the warmth of nature and people, that have given us much solace ❤️

In August, many of these areas were badly hit by record-breaking heavy rain and floods 😔

Two months on, we are relieved to find both the land and people of these areas recovering slowly but surely 🤗
and as our own little gesture of appreciation and encouragement, our latest article on Explore Komatsu is dedicated to them❣️

Part 1 features the first half of the road covering the riverside hamlets of Nakaumi, Yusenji and Ugawa.
(look out for part 2 soon, covering the second half of the road!) 🔍explorekomatsu.com

We hope you too can pay a visit to these humble hidden gems and give your support 🥰

*Photo 1 & 2 are the spider lilies currently blooming near Nakaumi along the Kakehashi River (taken 9/25)
While less than usual due to damage from the floods, they are still really pretty and we recommend catching them some time this week!
(scroll to the end for the photos taken last year!)
DM us for the exact pin!

Have a break, have some tea and sweets! 🍵🍡

Have a break, have some tea and sweets! 🍵🍡

Always been curious to join a tea ceremony, but nervous about all the rules and manners involved?

Here in Komatsu, where tea appreciation has long been a culture for the masses,
there are plenty of opportunities for even the uninitiated to take a sip into the world of tea! 🤗

A series of casual tea sessions are open to public each year, and the next one will be held on
Sept 25 (Sun), anytime between 10AM ~ 3PM.

You'll also get to experience the full ambience of a tea room, as it will be held at the Senso Yashiki and Gen’an Tea Houses, complete with a scenic view of Rojo Park within which the house is enshrouded 😌
(A little history tidbit: these teahouses were built in commemoration of Senso Soshitsu, the founder of the Urasenke school of tea, who served as tea magistrate in Komatsu for a time! i.e Komatsu was one of the early breeding grounds of tea culture! 😮)

While the actual tea ceremony procedures will not be performed,
you get to enjoy the same kind of carefully prepared matcha green tea 🍵 and wagashi sweets 🍡 usually served, for just 500 yen! 😋
And if you'd just like to take a look, you can tour the tea house freely at no cost too.

There is no dress code, but wear something comfortable for sitting on the tatami floor,
and socks are advised as you have to remove your shoes before entry 🧦
Registration is also not required! Drop by anytime you wish, 10AM~3PM ☝️

Catch ya, matcha! 🍵😉

*If you can't make this day, reservations to tour the teahouse, free-of-charge, can be made on other days as well.
Feel free to reach out to us for guidance on reservation!

*Photos here are from a recent English guided tour of the teahouse!

🌲🏡Escape to the Forest and Live with Nature🏡🌲

Tucked amongst cedar trees🌲 and rivers 💦 of Osugi in Komatsu is Denpaku, two guest inns transformed from kominka folk houses over 150 years old 🏠
The perfect place to take a breather far from society, and return to simple living amidst nature 😌
Fret not about having nothing to do, as an extensive selection of activities are offered so you can enjoy the rich nature to the fullest.

Such as catching river fish 🐟 and roasting it yourself over the inn's charcoal hearth 🔥
Or wandering through the surrounding forests on e-bike 🚵‍♀️ to encounter hidden cafes where you can mingle with locals.
Those looking for more excitement can even do canyoning down the nearby rivers, while artsy ones can join a flower arrangement or crafts workshop to make your own little local souvenir 🤗

While seasonal offerings using fresh local vegetables are available for breakfast, dinner is Do-It-Yourself, true to the concept of returning to self-sustained living in nature. Guests can use the shared kitchens freely, and enjoy their homemade meals around the cosy fireplace 🥰 (you have to source for your own ingredients too)
Or rent the inn's equipment to enjoy a BBQ on the outdoor deck, to the views and background music of the adjacent river

Opt for a single room in the shared inn, or reserve an entire inn for a more private stay.
More details and booking on Denpaku's official page:
https://www.denpaku-kogei.com/ (Japanese)
and Instagram
@denpaku_komatsu

The 3-day Ishinoko Matsuri, held in the farming ha

The 3-day Ishinoko Matsuri, held in the farming hamlet of Takigahara in Komatsu, is more than a music festival. It is a gastronomic experience for those with a love for food and fun. There will be various activities, from traditional taiko drum performances, DJ sets, and live music performances, to cooking workshops and sensory adventures, that will energize your heart and feed your soul.

For the more hardcore music lovers, the organizers promise a crystal-clear audio experience, provided by the Funktion One sound system, that will surround participants with every beat reverberating in the air at the foot of Mt. Kurakake.

Those who come to the festival will also have the opportunity to sample the many local restaurants that will be serving dishes from the most diverse cuisines from around the world.

If you are feeling adventurous, you can sleep in the tents that will be made available to all campers, free of charge. Otherwise, you can also opt for a stay at TAKIGAHARA CRAFT & STAY, a hostel located right at the event venue. There are also many traditional ryokan inns at the Awazu, Yamashiro, Yamanaka and Katayamazu hot spring towns, which are about 10 minutes away by car.

Ishinoko Matsuri
September 23 to 25, 2022
Takigahara, Ishikawa

For more information and ticket sales, visit the festival's website or Instagram @ishinoko.jp

http://ishinoko.jp

Cafe Restaurant HO GA: Personalized Meals in a Far

Cafe Restaurant HO GA: Personalized Meals in a Farming Town 🌾

Opened in May this year, a new gastronomical experience awaits you at HO GA @hoga_jp

Where you can select from a variety of local Ishikawa-grown rice 🍚, and from an array of dishware 🍽️ specially crafted by artisans from both Komatsu and around Japan, for the ultimate personalized meal 😌

Look forward to new rice varieties that are rotated seasonally, and feel the dishes for yourself to decide the one for you 🤲
Then sit back, relax and enjoy the peaceful views of the surrounding fields and forests 🌲 as you savor the creative dishes crafted from seasonal ingredients.

Finish off with an experience of Komatsu's wagashi sweet culture 🍡
HO GA's unique dessert selection includes the "Gomadora", with sesame-flavored red bean paste from a local wagashi shop sandwiched in a brown-rice pancake. New on the menu is also a coffee jelly that is as pleasant to admire as it is to taste! 😋

After your rejuvenating meal, consider a stroll around Natadera Temple next door as well @natadera_temple
A beloved autumn spot 🍁 in Komatsu that is most beautiful around end-Oct to early-Nov! 🤗

HO GA
Hours: 11am- 6pm (closed Thu)
Access:
(By car) Park at Natadera's Carpark No. 2
(By bus) 35 min ride from Komatsu Stn to Natadera Temple, then 5 min walk.

🎉Back in Action: Ataka Festival (10-12 Sept)🎉

Another festival is coming back for the first time in 3 years! 🥳

Held in Ataka 10-12 Sept this year, the festivities celebrate the town's history as a flourishing port 🛳, a history that has been recognized as Japan Heritage.

Fittingly, one of the festival highlights is the parade of small boats called hikifune, in the day on 11th and 12th.
These boats were used back then to carry goods from ship to shore, and were often tugged through the streets with their sails up ⛵️
Witness the same scene recreated at this festival, and join in the locals as they recite the traditional chants passed down from their ancestors! 🎶

Another highlight is the ritual mass dance on the night of the 10th.
Be mesmerized by the young ladies dressed in red, moving gracefully in the twilight to the rhythm of ondo folk music 💃
Catch the opening dance at 6pm from Ataka Sumiyoshi Shrine, and follow them as they parade through town, or head directly to Ataka Community Center at 7pm for the main dance!

The town will also be liven up by lion dances and food stalls across all three days, so do join in and soak in the festive mood 😌

*While you are there, do consider exploring the Kanjincho Museum, where you can learn more about Ataka and Komatsu's kabuki tradition in English, and drop by the Ataka Cafe for lovely food and views 🌅. You will find both facilities side-by-side along the sea! 🌊

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🍅Little Local Finds: Tomato Treats 🍅 We've b

🍅Little Local Finds: Tomato Treats 🍅
We've been eager to feature our favorite Komatsu vegetable for awhile, now that it's in season... 🤔

Yes, the humble tomato! 🍅🍅🍅
Our proud local specialty, of which we are the largest producer in Hokuriku.

While certainly a delightful treat just eaten freshly picked and raw (especially now in peak season), we also love how local shops have brought out the best of this often overlooked vegetable-fruit with 🍅 dishes, snacks and even desserts!?

In our latest article on Explore Komatsu, we introduce our favorites of the lot:

🍅 daifuku from @kouda__futaba , 🍅 rice crackers from @anyatosunday , 🍅 taiyaki from @marichan.0603, 🍅 cake from Cafe Lotus 🍰, 🍅 jams, curry 🍛 & ketchup 🥫 for your own home creations, and even 🍅 soba from @furusato_sumigen❣

Yes some of them may sound wacky, but as they say, you've got to try it to believe it 😉 Like us, you may see this juicy sweet red gem the same way again 🥰

👉Read more in our latest article on explorekomatsu.com👈

Miyayoshi Kutani Porcelain Maker - Respecting th

Miyayoshi Kutani Porcelain Maker

- Respecting the history and spirit of Kutani Ware.

We visited the Miyayoshi Kutani Porcelain Maker last month, a place where art and history blends with the beauty of every piece we had the pleasure of seeing. Since starting the business in 1972, they have been producing on a large scale, and have had the opportunity to do collaborative work with large, globally famous companies such as Suntory and Starbucks.

Each of Miyayoshi's wares are handmade by artisans, bringing together design and utility to suit the contemporary lifestyle and food culture.

The friendly studio manager, Mr. Chen-Miyayoshi, kindly guided us through the 50-year-old factory premises, from the kilns to the showcase of the most refined products.

You can also have this experience through the tours offered at the studio, and even join in a workshop to try your hand at shaping pieces from clay or painting.

Visit the links below to check the tours available and book your own.

https://en.activityjapan.com/publish/plan_list/5316

Miyayoshi Kutani Porcelain Maker 宮吉製陶
923-0835
Tsu 3-62 Yoshitake-machi
Phone: 0761-21-5435
Hours: 8:30 -16:30
@miyayoshi_kutani

Back in Business: Kokufu Sweets🌈 While the Kok

Gambare, Komatsu!❣️🙏 Our heart goes out to

Gambare, Komatsu!❣️🙏

Our heart goes out to everyone whose lives have been disrupted by the flash floods last week.

Being blessed by nature means we sometimes have to face its destructive side as well...

But just like how lotuses bloom strong and beautiful even amidst the mud, we know the community will come out of this stronger together! ❤️💪

Thank you to the many people lending their hand in the recovery work 🤗

And local furniture maker @taketosi_katou for this lovely photo 🥰

Little Local Finds: Summer in Seiryo-machi 🌞 N

Little Local Finds: Summer in Seiryo-machi 🌞

New post up on
❗explorekomatsu.com❗

In our next article of the Little Local Finds series, we introduce one of our favorite summer hangouts: the idyllic hamlet of Seiryo-machi 🏡

Depending on the season, you'll find either rolling fields of golden Barley 🌾 in May-June, or cheery sunflowers 🌻 in July-August! 😍

While the Sunflower Hill (ひまわりの丘 Himawari no Oka) of Seiryo-machi is of a smaller scale with daintier sunflowers than most other sunflower parks, we love it precisely for it's humble background: a ground-up project by the local community to give new life to abandoned fields 🥰

Getting to enjoy this hidden local spot all to ourselves, minus the crowds, is also a big plus 😌

Seiryo-machi is also where you'll find riverside vegetarian cafe @la_petite_porte 🌱 and a buffet spread of homecooked dishes prepared by the local grandmas @seseraginosato.komatsu 🍲, both healing spaces where you can nourish body and soul 🤗

Find out more about this place we love so much in our latest article on
👉explorekomatsu.com👈

It is summer and Ishikawa Prefecture is experienci

It is summer and Ishikawa Prefecture is experiencing a heat wave with apparent temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. ☀️
Water attractions are very welcome in such hot months.

This time, our destination is two waterfalls in Komatsu that not only refresh the skin but also soothe the mind.

On National Highway 416 from the Komatsu city area towards Nishimata and Okuradake Kogen Sky area, you will come to the Gotani River. In the middle of this river is the Junigataki Waterfalls.
In Japanese, the word junigataki means “twelve waterfalls”, and as the name suggests, the stream of the Gotani River divides into 12 streams and drops down here. The spectacle of the waterfalls cascading down with a powerful gurgling sound is a sight to behold any time of the year. The waterfall is popular as a casual stopover.

We then went on to Masudome Waterfall further along the road.
It is a small but quite beautiful branching waterfall that falls in two halves.
The beauty of the mosses that spread over the rocks is a spectacle in itself.

Hydrate well and make the most of the summer!

📍Junigataki Waterfalls

Nunohashimachi, Komatsu, Ishikawa 923-0164

📍Masudome Waterfall

172 Nishimatamachi, Komatsu, Ishikawa 923-0176

Rojo Park is an urban park built in the Meiji era

Rojo Park is an urban park built in the Meiji era on the site of Komatsu Castle, where Maeda Toshitsune, the fourth son of the war lord Maeda Toshiie and the third lord of the Kaga Domain, retired to live. The grounds include a Japanese garden with a circular pond and a tea ceremony house, Senso Yashiki and Gen-an, donated by Sen Genshitsu, the 15th head of the Urasenke tea ceremony family.

The current Rojo Park was opened in 1904. In addition to the Japanese garden, the park contains the Komatsu City Museum, a library, the Honjin Memorial Art Museum, a public hall and a primary school. It is a large park in itself, but the original castle tower of Komatsu Castle still stands about a 10-minute walk to the north-west. This gives a sense of the size of the castle. There is also a bronze statue of Lord Maeda Toshitsune in the park.

How about taking a quiet, relaxing walk through the park while you see before your eyes the history of Komatsu and Japan?

📍Rojo Park

19 Marunouchikoenmachi, Komatsu, Ishikawa 923-0903

Open 24 hours a day

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the sist

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Komatsu and Suzano (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Explore Komatsu issues a commemorative post this month.

This is Loja Uniao, a shop specializing in Brazilian products. The shop was founded 27 years ago, in 1995, and was originally part of a chain of shops in Ishikawa Prefecture and Toyama Prefecture. Currently, the shops are no longer part of the same chain, but the shop in Toyama is still in operation, and both share the same original name, despite not having any commercial relationship.

'Uniao' (portuguese for union) is not only a shop, but also a hub for the Brazilian community of Ishikawa to gather. Bank agencies and contractors' agencies eventually make available service counters on the shop premises, facilitating the access of Brazilians to various administrative services.

At Loja Uniao shop it is possible to find everything from typical Brazilian ingredients, such as beans, corn couscous, manioc flour, etc. to a few books in Portuguese, official language of Brazil.

If you are curious to learn more about Brazilian culture, why not visit Loja Uniao?

Loja Uniao 🇧🇷253-2 Doihara-machi, Komatsu Ishikawa
Business hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 9:00AM - 8:00PM
Saturdays: 9:00AM - 8:00PM
Sundays: 9:00AM - 7:00PM
Closed on Mondays.

💖A New Hub for Community & Nature💖 On 14 Ju

💖A New Hub for Community & Nature💖

On 14 July, a former school building in the Japan Heritage site of Kanagaso will reopen its doors as, eaufeu.

Meaning 💧water & fire🔥 in French, this hotel/community space symbolizes the fusion of the locality's traditional roots and rich natural resources
(the way water serves as the spring of life) with the fiery innovation of future generations and visitors.

A hub for the appreciation of both art and nature, the entire compound, including the guestrooms, is adorned with art works by Kiichiro Ogawa @barracks_anonymous_design_gang, which were created while immersed in the natural landscapes of Kanagaso, such as Junigataki Falls and the Kanagaso Quarry. You can even purchase pieces that are to your liking!

You can also admire the golden stone of Kanagaso Quarry infused into the spaces, nationally-prized stone that has been used in famous buildings such as the National Diet Building.

And at the restaurant, both staying guests and day visitors can enjoy culinary masterpieces crafted from local produce by Shota Itoi @shota__itoi, the youngest chef to ever win RED U-35, Japan's biggest culinary competition for next generation chefs.
And the best sake, from local brewery Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute next door @noguchi_naohiko_official 😋

It is a community space open to all,
so do come be a part of this collaboration between the old and new, art and nature, and local and international! 🤗
Of course, you may pamper yourself with a luxurious stay too 😉
Bookings can be made via their homepage: https://eaufeu.jp/

🚗 Access 🚌
20 mins by car or 40mins by bus from Komatsu Station.
(Take the Ogoya Line 尾小屋線 bus at 8am/1.20pm and get off at Hasaramachi 波佐羅)
DM us for directions!

Thank you @tomostagram.n_n.8888
for the lovely photos 🥰

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