Walk Japan launches the Onsen Gastronomy: Noto tour
Walk Japan is pleased to introduce its latest offering, the Onsen Gastronomy: Noto tour, a journey through the rural landscapes of the Noto Peninsula in Japan’s northern Ishikawa Prefecture, combining light walking through attractive rural countryside with a strong emphasis on the area’s renowned local cuisine, onsen hot springs and fine crafts epitomised by Wajima lacquerware.
The Onsen Gastronomy: Noto tour not only highlights the natural beauty and cultural richness of Noto but also supports the region as it recovers from a significant disaster. On New Year’s Day 2024, a powerful earthquake struck just off the coast of Noto, significantly affecting the local community. While the impact was widespread, it has since sparked a determined effort to rebuild.
In response to a call for help from a local activist group, Walk Japan visited mid-summer, and, seeing the urgency for action and potential amongst the disruption, created this tour as a way for visitors to contribute directly to Noto’s recovery. A Walk Japan colleague and Noto native who experienced the earthquake first-hand has been central to developing this tour. Her vigour and forward-looking spirit reflects the wider community’s determination to rebuild their lives and once again welcome visitors sooner rather than later to Noto.
Whilst the aftermath is necessarily an unavoidable element of the tour, the emphasis is very much on the positive; the spirited, resilient and welcoming locals, their society, food and craft, the wonderful accommodation and restaurants that have reopened but need guests more than ever, enjoyable walking, and, of course, the reviving and healing properties of onsen hot spring bathing.
Details
The Onsen Gastronomy: Noto tour is a five-day, four-night fully guided tour with a maximum group size of 12. Starting at Kanazawa Station and finishing at Wakura Onsen, the tour covers mostly flat terrain, making it accessible to moderately active participants. Prices start from JPY450,000 per person (approx £2,300), based on double occupancy, with no minimum group size required to run the tour.
About Walk Japan
Established in 1992, Walk Japan is an independently owned and managed walking tour company that enlightens and enriches its guests on walking tours through many less-travelled regions of Japan from Hokkaido in the nation’s far north to Okinawa in its far south. Walk Japan’s pioneering tours evolved from study trips run by two Hong Kong University academics and since then, Walk Japan’s Tour Leaders have guided many tens of thousands of people from around the world through Japan’s natural beauty, history, society and culture that is otherwise often difficult to access and fully appreciate.